Dan Dan the Magic Man, the traveling library magician, will be at the Great Bend Public Library next week to help young people get excited about books and reading. The Magic Man, known locally as Great Bend High School teacher Dan Heath, will bring his unique blend of comedy and magic to the summer reading program with shows at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 18. Admission is free.
His all-new magic show, “Magical Musical Tour,” is a 40-minute program is based on this year’s summer reading theme, “Libraries Rock.” Children get to help create the magic in this interactive program, which aims to thrill children of all ages and their parents as well.
Dan Dan uses his nearly 40 years of magical experience to bring to life the joys of reading and the fun of learning and exercise. Each summer, he travels the state with his children as assistants and with a menagerie of live animals. This year marks his 16th summer reading tour.
The summer reading program provides children the opportunity to develop reading skills, share in fun activities and experience the benefits of the local public library. Studies have shown that children who continue to read during the summer perform better in the fall when school resumes, sponsors said. Summer reading programs like Dan Dan’s “Magical Musical Tour” aim to make reading enjoyable and appealing to young people.