Children's Library Shows & Summer Reading Program Entertainment

Entertaining and amazing young readers and filling libraries with laughter is what our professional magicians, ventriloquists, and musicians do best. Since 2001, our performers have entertained at a combined total of over 150 Michigan libraries, 105 Ohio libraries, and 40 libraries in the greater Chicagoland area. These are the summer reading program entertainers that librarians ask for by name year after year.

All our library entertainers bring their own sound systems and all the exciting, kid-friendly props and equipment they need for their performance at your library event. We even have pre-designed posters and promotional graphics to help you advertise the show and get everyone looking forward to the show.

Scroll through our shows on this page, or jump directly to a specific library show:
Puppetry Around The World
Around the World with HARPbeat!
The Pure Imagination Magic Show
Vikki's Gasko's Global Safari Show
Rosco The Clown's Great Lakes Adventure
Reading Week Shows & Halloween Magic Shows

Puppetry Around The World
A UNIQUE Show For Your 2011 Summer Program

Puppetry Around The World is a one-of-a-kind show that will bring the magic of puppetry to life at your library for your 2011 Summer Reading Program.

Presented by a master puppeteer who was invited to study puppeteering with the Jim Henson Company, Puppetry Around The World introduces children to how cultures around the world created and performed with puppets. The audience will view lots of hilarious puppet skits that are presented in a custom-made, modern puppet theater. They will also get a chance to interact and participate at they learn about rod puppets, hand puppets, paper puppets and marionettes from India, Africa, Indonesia, and Japan.

The performance is fast-paced and entertaining for kids of all ages (even those that may think they are "too old" for a "puppet show"). .

Puppetry Around The World is available for 2011 Summer Reading Program entertainment in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois Libraries. It is also a creative library event for national reading month, library week or for a family night activity. Contact our office to find out about special fees for block booking with other libraries and to guarantee that your library does not miss out in 2011.

Check out a recent Michigan newspaper article about this presenters other program, Oceans in Motion.

• Show duration = 45 minutes
• The show comes with everything needed, including a custom puppet theater and lots of fun props!
• A "sure fire hit" with youth readers age 4-11 (but moms and dads will have fun too).

“Humorous and fun with plenty of interesting and educational lessons.”
-Maria Allard, Reporter, Warren Weekly Newspaper, Warren, Michigan - Macomb County, Michigan

“The show was very well received by families. The feedback has been some of the most positive I have seen for any performance.”
-Ohio Library Council, Columbus, Ohio

Around the World With HARPbeat!
A Musical Celebration of World Cultures

Michigan's own award-winning children's musician, Donna Novack and Harpbeat! have put together a special musical concert that celebrates cultures around the world through music.

Harpbeat's most popular show, Around The World with Harpbeat, is a musical journey around the world, that includes stops in Mexico, Japan, Austria, Germany, Russia, Canada, Egypt, and South Africa, before returning back to the USA. As Donna introduces each song, she explains how the song is important to that country and culture. The audience will also get to hear some parts of songs sung in different languages...and try out learning a new foreign language themselves.

Around the World with Harpbeat has all the audience interaction and participation that Harpbeat's shows are known for. There is lots of opportunity for curious kids to try their hand at an ethnic percussion instrument...or just dance along to the toe-tapping tunes.

Harpbeat! has been entertaining kids across Michigan for over 10 years, and the music of Harpbeat! has been awarded the Creative Child Magazine's seal of excellence. Music from their Around the World show is featured on Harpbeat's CD release, available at Amazon.com.

• Show duration = 45 minutes
• Kids and parents are encouraged to get involved and dance to many of the interactive songs.
  
• The show includes lots of props and musical instruments that Donna invites volunteers to use to add their own music to the songs.
• Donna brings her own sound system and everything needed for the performance.
• This show is guaranteed to book up quickly for summer 2011, so plan early!

“We all agree that Harpbeat was the best musical program that has ever performed in our library.”
-Tish Huang, Sterling Heights Public Library, Sterling Heights, Michigan

“We had such a wonderful fun music time last evening!! Thank you so much. You wove together music, songs, information, and fun in such a neat way. My toes are still tapping.”
-Elizabeth Andresen, Sage Branch Library, Bay City, Michigan

“The joy you bring to children and their families with your music and assortment of instruments is immeasurable.”
-Vicki Shurly, Peninsula Community Library, Traverse City, Michigan

Pure Imagination Magic Show
A Midwest Library Shows Exclusive Program

A show that is 100% pure fun!

What is the Pure Imagination Magic Show? We like to use the phrase that we hear most often from our midwest library clients, "the funniest program we have ever had at our library."

Chris the magician, who is also a nationally acclaimed children's entertainer and show host, creates a constant stream of giggles, guffaws, and smiles with a barrage of wacky, wild, and amazing magic tricks. The audience, both the kids and parents, help craft this magic show as it is happening by becoming a part of the magical routines. It is a performance you can file under "F" for "Funny".

Be sure to pull your books on magic and performing arts for a display at the show, as Chris works in book recommendations into his show and encourages kids to check out a magic book to try some magic on their own.

As a bonus surprise at the end of the show, Chris teaches young readers how to make a colorful balloon sculpture dog that they can take home with them. This colorful display is a guaranteed "Kodak moment".

About the magician...
Chris has been a regular performer at Michigan, Ohio and Illinois libraries since he began performing at the Auburn Hills Library in Auburn Hills Michigan in 1989! Today, Chris is in demand as a magic show entertainer at some of the world's top family attractions, including Walt Disney World, Navy Pier, and the San Diego Zoo. Every summer, however, Chris sets aside time in his schedule to return to Michigan to perform at Summer Reading Programs in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. He also occasionally has schedule availability in the Spring and Fall. All of these dates get spoken for quickly, so be sure to email our office soon to get a date you want.

• The full performance lasts 45 minutes.
• This magic show is 100% "kid friendly". There are NO knives, swords, or anything scary or inappropriate for young children in this show. You will be proud to have this magic show at your library.
• The Pure Imagination Magic Show is good for family nights.
• A special version of this magic show is available for library Halloween / Fall Festival parties.
• Chris brings his own sound system and can set-up the show in a large meeting room or a small corner of your library.

“On Saturday August 15, we had Chris the magician perform at our Summer Reading Club Finale Party. I just wanted you to know what a delight he was and how much fun he made the day. Chris was professional and very, very, VERY entertaining. We would definitely have him back.”
-Lori S. - Asst. Branch Librarian - Marysville Library, Marysville, Michigan

“The performance kept our audience of 200 (of all ages) completely engaged. The show got our summer reading off to a terrific start. Many people stopped in weeks after your show to tell us how much they enjoyed it and how much they laughed.”
-Paula C. Schaffner, Head of Youth Services, Saline District Library, Saline, Michigan

PLANNING IDEA: Need something for your library Teens?

If you are looking for a magic show geared towards a teenage and high school audience, The Wizard School Workshop comes highly recommended by librarians in Michigan and Illinois. This program features a short magic demonstration, but then the balance of the program involves teaching sleight-of-hand and mind-reading illusions that the participants can do at home. Your library can get a package discount by booking the Pure Imagination Magic Show youth library show and the The Wizard School Workshop teen program on the same day or on back-to-back days during the summer.

Vikki Gasko's Global Safari Show
A Midwest Library Shows Exclusive Program
An imaginative trip around the world

Has your library hired ventriloquist Vikki Gasko before? If not, we are willing to bet that you know a librarian who has hired her. For over 10 years, Vikki has been one of Michigan's most popular library entertainers. Families pack into libraries from Grand Rapids to Port Huron to see Vikki and her comedy ventriloquism show.

Vikki's 2011 Summer Reading Program Show - The Global Safari features larger than life animals and creatures from around the world that are brought to life through Vikki's incredible ventriloquism talents. Kids and parents will be captivated and bewildered as a polar bear shares stories about the Arctic Circle, Alaska and Russia, there will be LOTS of laughs as volunteers from the audience help Lil Sagi the Monkey explore the African and South American Rainforest, and plenty of surprises as everyone follows Twice the hound dog to Europe. The show also features appearances by Sammy the Seal who "fishes" the audience for Geography facts and Jaiho the cow who "moooooooves" the safari adventure to exotic India.

This program is guaranteed to be the talk of your summer reading line-up .

• Vikki brings all her animal friends to "life" with her masterful ventriloquism - No Live Animal Mess! :)
• The show is designed for summer reading audiences from Preschool - Sixth Grade, but it entertains and captivates mom and dad too!
• This travel show is filled with fun facts about cultures and countries around the world. There is something for everyone to learn in this show...and plenty of fun for all ages.
• Show duration = 45 minutes.
• There is no special set-up required for this performance.

“It was a lot of fun meeting you and your animal friends. The kids really enjoyed the silliness - there was so much laughter going on! We hope to have you back again soon.”
-Nancy Clarizio, Northville District Library, Northville, Michigan

Rosco's Great Lakes Adventure Show
A Michigan Travel Show For 2011 Summer Reading Programs

Rosco The Clown will share stories about his real Great Lakes travel adventures, as one of the few people to ever swim in ALL FIVE GREAT LAKES in just 24 hours. This show has lots of comedy and colorful visual aids from Rosco's travel adventure. Plus, all the good natured, guaranteed fun that Rosco is famous for. As your readers embark on their Great Lakes adventure, they will learn HOW to be a "Great Lakes Explorer", WHY we must preserve our water and keep it clean, and WHERE to find the best Great Lakes vacation spots to explore with their families.

Rosco is more than a clown, he has been one of Michigan's best known children's entertainers for 25 years. Rosco has always been actively involved with supporting library programs. Working with the Macomb Literacy Council, Rosco created the highly successful Rosco's Read To Me program, which was featured in hundreds of libraries and schools in Metro Detroit.

• Rosco's Great Lakes Adventure Show is available exclusively to Michigan libraries.
• Show duration = 45 minutes.
• The show is appropriate for summer reading program participants of all ages.

“The staff is especially proud of Rosco as he strives to provide the best in family entertainment.”
-Metroparks, Metro Detroit, Michigan

Other Shows & Holiday Performances

Midwest Library Shows can help you schedule family and children's entertainment for any type of library event. Our entertainers offer many additional shows other than the ones featured on this site, including Halloween magic shows, Reading Month shows, Science shows, family fun night shows, and December holiday musical shows. Our office staff will work with you to book a show that is exactly what you are looking for.

Let's talk about bringing some award-winning children's entertainment to your library! You can call (586)913-3036 or email us anytime to discuss fees and scheduling for any of our entertainers.

Midwest Library Shows also is source for booking teen programs for Michigan libraries. Teen workshops for Ohio libraries. Teen summer reading programs for Chicago and Illinois area libraries. Navigate to our "shows for teens" section for more details about these programs.

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