An exciting morning is planned for valley kids who want a little more magic in their lives. Norden the Magician is putting on a free magic show at Christ Church Trinity in Invermere on Thursday (July 19) beginning at 10 a.m.
The event, presented by the Invermere Public Library, is to help celebrate this year’s province-wide Summer Reading Club theme – “Strange… but true.”
“[Kids] can expect a whole ton of fun,” Norden told The Valley Echo. “[The show] is very interactive, very high energy, high paced.”
With his large colourful repertoire filled with gags and props to amaze and amuse for all ages, Norden has received nation-wide acclaim for the host of tricks he keeps up his sleeve. Last July, he was awarded Children’s Magician of the Year for 2011 by the Canadian Association of Magicians, and has also won awards from the Vancouver Magic Circle as well as the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians.
Every summer, he takes his literary-based program on the road and this year his performance will be seen in 72 libraries across B.C.
“Through the show we talk about the importance of reading, taking care of library books and using your imagination to learn, so there’s that hidden element of education,” he said.
Although his show is aimed at children ages four to 12, parents will also get a kick out of his antics.
“I do play to [parents] so they get some entertainment over the kids’ heads so to speak,” Norden said.
His magician’s rabbit Q-tip is sure to make an appearance as are other puppets, and kids can expect to be asked on stage to help out.
Doors open at 9:45 a.m. so don’t be late as the 45-minute long show is set to begin on time at 10 a.m. Christ Church Trinity is located at 110 – 7th Avenue in Invermere.
The 2012 Summer Reading Club started up on July 6 and will run every Friday afternoon until August 24. Offered to children who are going into grades one up to five, the group meets at 1:30 p.m. for two hours of crafts, games, stories and a snack. Parents aren’t required to stay and supervise, but are asked to return to pick up their children promptly at 3:30 p.m. The program is free of charge.
New this year is a cap of 20 children and parents must call the morning of to register their child for a spot that afternoon.
Some exciting special guests are planned for the Summer Reading Club in the coming weeks. On Friday (July 20), Sprinkles the Clown will make an appearance. Her 30-minute interactive clown routine with puppets will begin at 1:30 p.m. followed by a clown camp, which will give children the opportunity to do puppet theatre and balloon tricks.
The following Friday (July 27), a guest will speak to the club about fossils, then two weeks after that on August 10, musicians from the Columbia Valley Chamber Music Festival will present the reading club with a free concert at Christ Church Trinity.
For more information about Norden’s show or the Summer Reading Club, call the library at 250-342-6416 or visit invermere.bclibrary.ca.