The yellow hard hats seen Monday at Great Bend Public Library weren’t for construction work. Staff wore the hats to celebrate the theme for this year’s summer reading program: “Dig Into Reading.”
The summer program got off to a magical start when Dan Dan the Magic Man appeared for a show. With his assistant Patrick, “Magic Man” Dan Heath was able to work the theme into the act. He pulled a full-size shovel from a brown paper bag. There was also plenty of chances for the young audience members to participate. For one trick, the Magic Man started with a skit where children dressed as pirates searched for treasure.
Wearing a pirate hat, with a hook on one hand and a sword in the other, an audience member led the others in the pirate cheer:
Give me an R!
Give me an R!
Give me an R!
What’s that spell?
Arrrr!
GBPL’s Children’s Librarian, Eric Coulbourne, said the goal is for children who visit the library to collectively read 3,000 books this summer.
There will also be activities for older readers this summer. The theme for teens – which includes all students in grades 7-12) is “Beneath the Surface.” In addition to events listed in last Sunday’s Great Bend Tribune, upcoming teen activities include:
• Newsprint Nails, 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 26. Learn how to make fingernails look like they are covered in newspaper print.
• Prop photo booth, 3 p.m. Thursday, June 27. After all, who doesn’t wonder what they look like in a masquerade mask or wearing a monocle?
• Temporary “tattoos,” 3 p.m. Friday, June 28. Henna is prepared from a plant and is used to temporarily dye skin. Parental consent is required and must be turned in by 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, to participate.
 For more information visit the library website, greatbendpl.info, or call 792-2409.