The magic of reading
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Dave the Magic Man engaged around 90 children with his magic act featuring space themed cards.
The children had the opportunity to choose from a wide array of books.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Dave the Magic Man performed for the finale of the Boundary County Library summer reading program, seen here with his “bunnynauts.”
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN There were books for all ages, displayed across picnic tables, for the children to choose from.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Despite gusts of wind, Dave the Magic Man thrilled the children at the Boundary County Fairgrounds.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The magic acts were tailored for the program, like this magic Library Card.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Dave the Magic Man threaded a needle through a balloon.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Every year, Dave the Magic Man spends months tailoring his acts to the nationwide theme for the summer reading program.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The children choosing their door prizes at the end of the event.
BONNERS FERRY — On Wednesday, July 31, around 90 children gathered at the Boundary County Fairgrounds to enjoy books and a performance by Dave the Magic Man, who appeared as Fuzz Leapyear, the “second cousin, twice removed, of that other well-known, famous astronaut.”
This year’s nationwide summer reading program was, “A Universe of Stories,” and the Boundary County Library embraced the theme, with a large mural with planets on it, featured in the library.
“There’s a spacecraft and to get from one planet to the next, they had to read 1,000 books, to bring the spacecraft back home to earth,” explained Boundary County Library Director Craig Anderson.
Although the day was sunny, a gusting breeze coming through provided a challenge for the Magic Man, who tailors the show every year to fit with the theme. Despite the trouble with the wind, the Magic Man performed his magic acts, delighting all the children with acts that featured things like bunnynauts — which are astronaut bunnies — and a magic card matching game with planets, the sun, aliens, and more.
“I think it went excellent despite the wind,” said Boundary County Library Children’s Director Teri Neumayer. “We breezed through it … pun intended.”
The Magic Man encouraged audience participation throughout the entire show, keeping the children engaged and laughing, thrilling them with magic acts. At the end of the show, 30 children had their names drawn for door prizes of their choice, and they also got to choose from a wide array of books set up on picnic benches.
“I thought it went great; thought it was a very receptive crowd,” said Dave the Magic Man. “The kids were awesome.”
Anderson attended the show with his granddaughter, 3-year old Olivia Anderson.
“That was really fun,” said Anderson. “This was her first magic show that she has been to.”
“We’ve been so lucky that we get to hang out with Dave the Magic Man,” said Anderson. “He always grabs hold of our theme and changes up the way he’s doing things and his costumes and that sort of stuff. He matches what we’re doing because he really believes in the Boundary County Library and he believes in the kids reading.”