When preparing for a magic show, Anna and her friends find a talent for trouble instead in the eighth book of this “fast-paced, fun, and funny” (Megan McDonald, bestselling author of the Judy Moody series) illustrated chapter book series about the joys and challenges of elementary school friendships. Anna, Sadie, and Isabel develop an interest in magic tricks when their frenemy Justin mystifies them with a cool card trick but refuses to tell them how he did it. Determined to figure it out for themselves, the girls set out for the best place to find answers—the library!—ready to learn every magic trick in the book. But magic isn’t as easy as it appears, even with a book of instructions. When Anna goes to her neighbor Mrs. Shirley for advice, she finds out that while Mrs. S doesn’t know any magic tricks herself, her very favorite birthday party ever was a magician show where the magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat. With the neighborhood potluck coinciding with Mrs. Shirley’s seventy-sixth birthday, Anna and her friends decide to practice their own magic act to perform for her, but a whole slew of mix-ups ensue as they try to puzzle out how the tricks are done and how to figure out Justin’s secret, too. Can Anna and her friends perform some magic and get the mix-ups under control before— presto —it’s showtime? Anna and her friends are putting on a magic show! When Justin dazzles his classmates with a mysterious, magical card trick, but refuses to say how it's done, Anna, Sadie, and Isabel are determined to figure it out for themselves. They set out for the best place to find answers--the library!--ready to learn every trick in the book. If they can perfect their acts in time (with Banana's help, of course), they can put on a show of their own at the neighborhood potluck party. But the tricks aren't as easy as they look, even with instructions. And with Anna still determined to figure out Justin's secret as the big show approaches, things are getting more and more mixed up. Can Anna perform some magic and get the mix-ups under control before--presto--it's showtime? I didn't look at Justin during the science experiments, or pay him any attention during geography, either. But by the time we went outside for recess, my curiosity was so hot, I thought it might boil over. It was finally time to see the trick! Sadie, Isabel, and I ran to the merry-go-round. Its flat surface would be good for spreading out playing cards. "Justin! Over here!" Sadie called. Justin walked up to us and swept one arm through the air dramatically. "Behold!" he said. "Prepare to be shocked and amazed!" --from Anna, Banana, and the Magic Show Mix-Up Anica Mrose Rissi grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats lots of cheese with her friends in Princeton, New Jersey, where she lives with her dog, Arugula. Find out more at anicarissi.com and follow @anicarissi on Twitter and Instagram. Cassey Kuo is a visual development artist and illustrator. Born and raised in New Jersey, she has enjoyed drawing for as long as she can remember and now spends nearly all of her time creating art. When she is not hidden in the studio, she can be found dancing, rock climbing, and generally staying active. Find out more at Kckuo.com and follow @Sleepy_KC on Instagram. Chapter One: The Dragon’s Secret Chapter One The Dragon’s Secret “Okay, my turn to start,” my best friend Isabel said. She shimmied on the big rock where we were sitting out on the playground, waiting for the first bell to ring. Our other best friend, Sadie, wasn’t there yet. Her bus was late. “Once upon a time, there was a tiny dragon with a huge secret,” Isabel said. She lifted her eyebrows in my direction. I grinned. That was a great start to a story. Now it was my turn to add a sentence—that was the game we were playing. I thought for a second. “The dragon’s secret was so embarrassing, she hadn’t even told it to her best friend the unicorn, or her other best friend, the magic puppy,” I said. I almost always put a dog in our stories. Sometimes I even put in my dog, Banana, but not this time. Banana isn’t a magic puppy. She’s a funny little wiener dog, all long and skinny in the middle, like a banana. Isabel added the next sentence. “The secret was, the dragon didn’t know how to fly.” “Ooh.” I liked that. My brain lit up like a sparkler, full of ideas for what could come next. “The dragon hid her secret by pretending the reason she never flew was to stay on the ground with her friend, because the puppy couldn’t fly either,” I said. If I could fly but my friends couldn’t, I would walk with them when we were together. “Magic puppies aren’t supposed to fly, but dragons and unicorns all know how,” I said. Isabel nodded. “The dragon was afraid that if anyone learned her secret, they would make fun of her and not want to be her f