Photos

Fact Box

Who: All Children

What: "Creating Magic at Your Library"

When: Monday, June 22, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Community Center Auditorium

Info: 964-0211

Advertisement

Jim Chartier has been a fulltime magician and illusionist his whole life, performing from coast to coast for more than 20 years with his wife and partner Lori, who is also a talented vocalist.

They started doing library shows back in Ohio about eight years ago when a friend asked them to put together "The Magical Balloon Adventure." When the Chartiers came to Florida five years ago, their shows quickly caught on here.

Jim and Lori still do corporate shows and casino shows, as well as five different children's shows, including a pirate adventure, a science show and the "Rootin' Tootin' Readin' Roundup" they gave Monday for the Summer Reading Program here.

"Every show is different," Chartier said. "It's fun because kids just yell things out. [Monday it was "banana" and "hot dogs."] Adults won't do that. The kids laugh. We laugh. We get to play dress up everyday.

"And as a husband and wife team," he added, "we're always together. We work and play together 24/7."

Chartier got the show underway telling the children to "dust off your chaps and put on your cowboy hats." Then they were off on a wild adventure that included mystery messages, magic Ghost Town dust, balloon animals like Rudy the Reading Roadrunner, and the magic words -- "Yee Haw!"

The Summer Reading Program continues Mondays through July 20. This week's session was held at The Island School, due to Vacation Bible School at the community center. The rest of the sessions will be in the community center auditorium.

The weekly programs are part of the Summer Reading Program at the Reference Room and Library at the Boca Grande Community Center. According to librarian Toni Vanover, the program is "to encourage children to read and to like books." Children of all ages can take part. Children ages 3 and under get a nursery rhyme book, she said. Elementary students get a sticker for each book they read. When they get three stickers, they're entered in a drawing for a book, or if they get six stickers, they get a free book. "Read & Win" is for teens who can earn a teen book by reading a book and writing a short review.

The next session in the Summer Reading Program will be "Creating Magic at Your Library" with Robbie the Ringmaster's Circus of Magic at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 22, at the community center. The show features magic tricks, over-the-top puppetry and fun stories. The colorful, laugh-filled Circus of Magic is created by Mark Pettey, a local favorite of young school children all over Southwest Florida. Come discover the treasures of reading and see how magical things can get when you let your mind be creative.

For more information about the Summer Reading Program, stop by the Reference Room and Library at the community center or call 964-0211. For more about Jim and Lori Chartier, visit www.showtimeforkids.com or their main Web site at www.eyefxentertainment.com

Facebook  MySpace  Digg  Stumble    Mixx  Fark  del.icio.us   LiveSpaces

Member Comments

View Comments: | Post a comment

No comments posted for this article.

You must first login before you can comment.