Library provides ‘magical’ time for young readers

Marty “the Magician” Hahne of Ozark, Missouri, presents, “The Magical Library Adventure,” during the morning show Monday, June 17 at the Sikeston Public Library. His magic tricks were centered around this year’s theme of adventure and the American road trip.

Gina Curtis/ Standard Democrat

SIKESTON — The Sikeston Public Library’s summer reading program is underway, and this year’s theme is an adventurous one: “Great American Road Trip.”

Sikeston Public Library Director Ron Eifert explained why the summer reading program is so important.

“The summer reading program is a way to build interest in reading and literacy,” Eifert said. “It’s a way to get kids in the library that normally wouldn’t get in here.”

Eifert said library staff hope children are reading over the summer to avoid the “summer reading slide.”

Attendees of Sikeston Public Library’s summer program listen as Marty “the Magician” Hahne of Ozark, Missouri, presents, “The Magical Library Adventure,” during the morning show Monday, June 17 at the Sikeston Public Library. The children helped Marty the Magician say the magic words for one of his tricks. Gina Curtis/Standard Democrat

“You know, sometimes you can see a child lose at least a grade level of reading if they don’t practice it over the summer,” Eifert said. “So. we want to try and help avoid that and get the kids in here to remind them that reading and visiting the library can be fun.”

Already in June, children have had the chance to experience adventure and the beauty of the United States. As part of the summer reading program, three presenters were scheduled for three consecutive Mondays in June with shows at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Toby Kid’s JEDI Adventure took place on June 3. Will Stuck’s Adventure into the Absurd was on June 10, and Marty the Magician was the last presenter of the month on Monday, June 17.

Marty Hahne is a magician from Ozark, Missouri, who performs at thousands of schools, libraries and festivals.

On Monday, Lincoln University summer camp and St. Francis Xavier day camp children attended the morning presentation in which Hahne performed magic tricks for the children. His presentation was entirely centered on travel. 

“This afternoon we will have a group from the YMCA and more individuals from the community come in for the 1 p.m. presentation,” Eifert said. 

Hahne performed many magic tricks that kept the kids laughing and entertained.

Summer reading programs officially begin on June 24 and will continue until the end of July. 

Children will learn about and appreciate the amazing and weird things our country has to offer with books, crafts, snacks and more. Children in kindergarten through second grade will meet at 1 p.m. Mondays; third through fifth grade at 1 p.m. Tuesdays; and 2- to 5-year-olds will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesdays.

Eifert noted the library’s STEAM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math, room will reopen on July 1.

Eifert said the STEAM room will have many hands-on adventure activities for patrons to enjoy outside of their regularly scheduled story times, and it will close July 27. 

“The STEAM room is very popular and it’s all themed around road trips and travel,” Eifert said. 

For more information, contact the Sikeston Public Library.