Do You Believe In Magic? (A Wild Thing Book): The Search for Wonder, from Sorcery to Science

Ages 8 to 11, Grades 3 to 6

Inspired by her popular Wild Thing podcast, journalist Laura Krantz incorporates the scientific method and her journalistic skills to determine if magic might be real in Do You Believe in Magic?

Magic—spells and curses, hexes and potions, superstition, and rituals. We’ve all heard stories of alchemists attempting to turn abundant lead into precious, rare gold. Or of poor, unfortunate souls asking potion masters to brew up unappetizing concoctions that will help them find love. And of course, we’re familiar with curses—muttering magical words for the purposes of exacting revenge on an enemy, or protecting a hidden treasure.

Who wouldn’t like the idea of special powers, or control over the natural world? It seems pretty fun, even if it’s just the stuff of fantasy books and movies. But a lot of what we call “magic” has grounding in real practices. In fact, magic is at the root of many scientific fields—from chemistry to botany to astronomy—and has been an important part of human culture for thousands of years.

Do You Believe in Magic? takes readers through a world where magic and science collide. What do they have in common? Where do they differ? What role has magic played in our history, and the history of science? Why is magic still significant, even when it doesn’t seem to line up with reality? And is it possible to be scientifically minded and still believe in magic? Readers are encouraged to weigh the facts and go beyond their gut assumptions, to stretch their imaginations and think about why magic and science might be two sides of the same coin.

Includes color illustrations, an at-home science/magic experiment, glossary, bibliography, and index

A Wild Thing series:

The Search for Sasquatch

Is There Anybody Out There?

Do You Believe in Magic?

About the Author

Laura Krantz is a print and audio journalist whose critically acclaimed podcast Wild Thing explores the intersection between science and society. She spent 10 years as an editor and producer with NPR in Washington, D.C. and KPCC in Los Angeles, and her work has appeared in Smithsonian, Outside, and Popular Science. An Idaho native, Krantz received her BA from Whitman College and her MA from the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. She lives in Denver with her husband, New York Times bestselling author Scott Carney, and their two cats.