Solving Puzzles and Riddles in Magic Tree House Book 37: The Secret of the Crystal Cave

Magic Tree House Book 37: Dragon of the Red Dawn In the 37th installment of the popular children's book series, Magic Tree House, written by Mary Pope Osborne, readers are taken on an exciting adventure to ancient Japan. The book, titled Dragon of the Red Dawn, combines historical elements, time travel, and magical creatures to captivate young readers. The story follows the main characters, Jack and Annie, who have a special treehouse filled with books that can transport them through time and space. In this particular adventure, they find themselves in Japan during the time of the samurai. Their mission is to find a special writing called "nihon" that will help save their friend, Morgan le Fay. As Jack and Annie navigate the unfamiliar world of feudal Japan, they encounter samurais, ninjas, and dragons.

As Jack and Annie navigate the unfamiliar world of feudal Japan, they encounter samurais, ninjas, and dragons. They must rely on their bravery, quick thinking, and the help of new friends to complete their quest. Along the way, they learn about the importance of honor, friendship, and perseverance.

Look at inverted magic

Hello. I am having a hard time identifying an effect which I thought was a classic kids show trick.

Basically, as I recall, the magician pours water into a covered glass on a kids head. A card is placed on top of the cover and the whole unit in inverted. The magician realizes that the "instructions" for the trick are printed on the card and removes the card. Hilarity ensues. The final instruction is read out and the magic words are spoken and the glass of water has vanished.

Is this a classic effect, or have I conflated several concepts here? I know that Dan Harlan does a variation of this on one of his early DVDs where he makes a milkshake on a kids head, but I'm hoping to follow the idea back to the original source. I have vague memories of seeing several local magicians do this in various shows back in the older days.

Thanks very much for your help.

The trick you're looking for is commonly called the "Comedy Egg Can". I believe it was created by Don Alan.

There are variations with names like "Comedy Milk Can".

Google "comedy egg can magic trick" (without the quotes), and both variations will show up.

I know this one as Bongo's Bloomer, an idea from Ali Bongo in the early 1960s where you use an opaque beaker with some spring flowers folded up in it and attached to a flat bag weighted with lead shot. When you finally lift the beaker, having previously slid away the instructions which when read out clearly state: "do not remove this card", you finally lift the beaker to reveal the spring flowers that open up and sit on the victim's head.

I forgot to mention, you don't use water in the bloomer trick, you pour milk into the beaker from an evapourating mild jug (I think that's what you call the jug, but you know what I mean!)

IMHO, Jim Raino's "Egg Trick" offers much more comedic moments. A volunteer reads an instruction manual as the performer breaks open a real egg, pours it into a cup, and from there pours the egg into a larger plastic cup that another volunteer has been holding and then inverted on his/her head. As the instructions continue, a paper plate is removed from mouth of the cup, the volunteer says a mistake has been made, and then a cut out felt egg, or anything else you want to fall out (I use yellow and white pom pom balls) pours out over the volunteer's head and onto the floor. Always gets a great response.

Wow! Thank you all for the helpful responses! Yes, that does ring a bell now. I have to tell you. The strangest thing happened to me today. I have been living in Europe for a couple of decades, and yesterday I arrived at my folks house to visit after many years. I went up in the attic and found some boxes of magic apparatus which were passed on to me by an old magician when I was a kid and which I thought were long gone. One of those items was the egg can! That must be where my hazy memories were coming from! Thanks again sharing your knowledge!

My routine was based on one I read in David Ginn's book Children Laugh Louder (I think). I'm pretty sure it's in there, but I no longer have the book. It's been about 40 years, but looking over the contents online I think the routine is "Freaky's Terror" although I could be completely mistaken. I'm sure it was in one of his books, and credited to someone else. I'm also sure (as others have mentioned above) that the concept has been around a lot longer. Wish I could offer more specific help.

Thanks for that Dan. I love your milkshake routine, and all your work in general! Thanks for the advice. I’ll keep my eyes out for Ginn’s book. I hope to cross paths one day.

Yes, Comedy Egg Can. I bring it out in an Amazon box stating that it arrived a few days earlier. I have a kid read the directions while I try to use an adult as the guinea pig.b I found realistic looking fried eggs in a candy store which I substitute for the felt that it comes with. I use flash paper to "cook" the egg.

I've seen this routine often performed with a Foo mug, which I know James Rainho put out some time ago but no longer does.

Does anyone elses stock a Foo mug? I imagine a Foo Cup which is readily available does the same thing, but it doesn't look as 'innocent' as a mug.

Easy home-made Foo(L)-U Glass Mug: Buy a glass (or clear plastic) Mug from Dollar Store (where else?). Fill mug with some water - how much depends on the size of your hand. Cut a circle from clear plastic packaging material and seal the top of the mug so that the plastic lid is invisible and smooth and water-tight. Pick up Milk Pitcher (Make your own - Dollar Store Magic). With other hand pick up mug with your hand covering the water in the bottom. Pretend to fill mug with water from the Milk Pitcher and then move your hand to the mug handle so everyone can see the real water inside the mug. Cover with paper or cardboard as for comedy egg can. Invert on someone's head, then pull out paper. Finally lift up mug and show that the water is sealed in. It's different, so don't use it if you have to perform it the way everyone else does.

Thanks Jim. I do however like the idea of cracking a real egg into a Foo Mug - I see a lot of comedy potential during the routine and a kicker finish. Anyone know if the Foo Mug still exists on the market?

Thanks in advace

When I purchased The Comedy Egg Trick, it came with a foo mug.
Really seels the trick when the audience sees you crack a real Egg into it

Ginn is currently offloading many of his books on the Facebook magic exchange page you might check there to see if he has it or ask him

On Jan 23, 2020, Topper2 wrote:
I know this one as Bongo's Bloomer, an idea from Ali Bongo in the early 1960s where you use an opaque beaker with some spring flowers folded up in it and attached to a flat bag weighted with lead shot. When you finally lift the beaker, having previously slid away the instructions which when read out clearly state: "do not remove this card", you finally lift the beaker to reveal the spring flowers that open up and sit on the victim's head.

Ali Bongo worked up a deluxe version of this effect for Paul Daniels. He described it in detail in his "Under the Banyan Tree" column that ran in Genii in the 1990's. See Bongo's "Under the Banyan Tree" column in the October 1992 issue of Genii magazine. (if you are a subscriber, you have have access to all the back issues in a digital archive).

Google "comedy egg can magic trick" (without the quotes), and both variations will show up.

Dragon of the Red Dawn introduces young readers to Japanese culture, mythology, and history. Through the eyes of Jack and Annie, they learn about samurai practices, the significance of cherry blossoms, the art of origami, and the legend of the Dragon King. This exposure to different cultures and time periods helps expand children's knowledge and understanding of the world. In addition to its educational aspects, Dragon of the Red Dawn is filled with excitement, suspense, and magic. The book's fast-paced narrative keeps readers engaged, eager to uncover the next twist in the story. Osborne's vivid descriptions and character development make it easy for readers to imagine themselves alongside Jack and Annie on their thrilling adventure. Overall, Magic Tree House Book 37: Dragon of the Red Dawn is a captivating addition to the series. It combines history, fantasy, and cultural exploration in an entertaining and educational way. Readers of all ages will enjoy joining Jack and Annie on their quest to rescue their friend and unravel the mysteries of ancient Japan..

Reviews for "Exploring Ancient Civilizations in Magic Tree House Book 37"

- Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Magic Tree House Book 37". I have been a fan of the series for a while now, but this one just fell flat for me. The plot felt rushed and the characters were not as developed as in previous books. Additionally, the writing style felt choppy and disjointed, making it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I just couldn't connect with this book and it left me wanting more.

- Jason - 1/5 - I have read and enjoyed many books from the Magic Tree House series, but Book 37 was a major letdown. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, and the whole concept of time travel seemed forced and out of place. The characters lacked depth and I didn't feel any emotional connection to them. I found myself skimming through the pages just to finish the book and move on. Overall, this book did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.

- Sarah - 2/5 - As a longtime fan of the Magic Tree House series, I was excited to dive into Book 37. However, I found myself quickly losing interest in the story. The plot felt repetitive and predictable, lacking the usual excitement and adventure that the series is known for. I also found the writing to be dull and lacking the magic that usually captivates readers. Overall, this book fell short of the quality I have come to expect from the series, and I was left feeling disappointed.

- Michael - 1/5 - I have read almost every book in the Magic Tree House series, but Book 37 was a major disappointment. The plot felt forced and contrived, and the characters seemed to act out of character. The writing style was choppy and it was hard to stay engaged in the story. I expected more from this book and I was left feeling letdown. I wouldn't recommend it to fellow fans of the series.

Time Traveling with Jack and Annie in Magic Tree House Book 37