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Tango's Magic Tricks

by Sheryl Cesmat; Illustrated by Marilyn Cesmat Clague

85 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-2257; ISBN 1-4120-4449-9; US$14.00, C$16.00, EUR11.50, £8.00

In this entertaining TRUE story, find out how Grammy's pet rabbit Tango faces life-threatening adventures and also learns to do many tricks, even performing magic shows for audiences.

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About the Book      About the Author      Excerpt      Catalogue Information

About the Book

The entertaining true story of Tango opens with a grandmother purchasing baby rabbits as surprise gifts for her grandsons on Easter morning. Grammy, as the children call her, ends up with a rabbit herself which she calls Tango. This playful and amusing little rabbit becomes the light of her life and a wonderful friend and companion. Grammy and Tango play games and experience some unusual, sometimes frightening adventures together.

Tango is mischievous, exceptionally bright, and always striving to be the center of attention. With Grammy's help he learns to do tricks, even magic stunts. He can open toy doors to retrieve toys, play cards and a toy piano, pull a little train, pull hidden scarves out of a magic hat, and more, all quite amazing for a rabbit! Tango loves people. With his sparkeling personality and entertaining trick skills, he amazes and charms children as well as adults with staged performances, always dressed in his top hat and bowtie.

Though Tango loves to tease and is full of lively fun, his most endearing quality is a special empathy and understanding connection with Grammy, even battling her depression and illness to help save her life.

Tango's delightful personality is apt to touch your heart in such a way that henceforth whenever you see a rabbit you will think of Tango's story. He will bring a smile to your face and warm your heart. Pet lovers everywhere, especially children, will relate to and enjoy Tango's wonderful true story.

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About the Author

A native of California ranch life, Sheryl Cesmat grew up with animals which were often the subjects of her youthful creative stories. Even as she matured and married, she continued to entertain children with her creative dancing and storytelling, especially her own three dear sons and later precious grandchildren. With retirement came the desire to publish the best of her stories starting with the true exciting tale of experiences with her precious pet rabbit Tango.

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Excerpt

From the way Tango played his games, it was evident that he was an exceptionally bright little creature. I had wondered if he could also learn a few tricks and decided to try teaching him something simple. I remember the fi rst trick I attempted to teach Tango was to fetch a ball. Since he couldn't hold a ball very well in his mouth, we substituted a small square plastic block that he could bite his two front teeth into. I tried to make learning the trick fun, like the games which he dearly loved, and I carefully praised every bit of progress in the right direction.

I found a small area was needed to keep his attention, and I never worked him more than 25 minutes at a time and only twice a day. Since Tango especially liked Cheerios treats, they were the usual reward, or sometimes a raisin if he made even the slightest effort to do what I asked of him. It took a combination of treats, patience, and love. Actually at times I found a loving hug and voice praise worked about as well as treats. However, before long my smart little man grasped the idea of the trick and would chase after the cube when I threw it, pick it up in his teeth, and happily race back with it to me knowing that he had done something special.

The second trick Tango learned was to pull a toy train which I had fastened onto a ribbon. He could pick up the ribbon on command and hop off pulling the little engine and a few cars behind. I would applaud and he loved strutting around showing off. After that, he kept looking at me as if to say, "Well, what's next?" and we started adding about one new trick every week. He had a little Fisher Price wooden wagon, that was just the right size to hold his plump little body, and he would jump into it, as if to say, "I'm ready! Let's hit the road!"

a garage sale to unload so there is room to breathe again. I ran a newspaper ad and had quite a big Saturday turnout. People wandered into the patio where I had some chairs and whatnots on display. Tango lay quietly watching, but when a lady reached out to touch him, he moved. The lady squealed and jumped back. "I thought he was a stuffed toy," she said, "but he is real!"

The woman's two little daughters laughed in delight, so I introduced Tango and mentioned that he could do some tricks. Of course they wanted to see him do tricks and soon a little collection of garage sale customers eagerly gathered around.

I was pleased to see that Tango didn't seem frightened and even acted eager to win some Cheerios by showing off his stunts before an audience. Perhaps to "warm up the audience," Tango agreed to push his little toy telephone around with his nose, stopping so the children could help themselves to covered candy kisses from a little box fastened on the toy.

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Catalogue Information

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