EcoMagic! Show Entertains and Educates
Magician Mike Bent helped the J.V. Fletcher Library kick off its Summer Reading Program in the Meeting Room on Wednesday, June 24. A group of children and parents laughed and exclaimed as Bent led them through a series of demonstrations and games designed to show them simple ways to “go green” and protect the planet.
“Who wants to live in a disgusting world?” Bent asked the crowd. “Not me!”
Bent began the show with a Litterbug Game. Kids were challenged to find a Litterbug card among an oversized deck that contained pictures of different types of trash. Bent noted that no such “bugs” exist; when there is trash on the side of the road, it’s because a person put it there. The best way to reduce litter, he said, is to “not be a litterbug yourself.”
Bent skillfully used a magic trick to illustrate how much water one person can save over time if they turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth each day.
Audience member and Westford resident Alexandra Bradshaw, Age 9, donned a Lorax wig and joined Bent on stage for a segment about preserving trees.
The final act, a Color Game, featured a race between four categories of garbage: compost, paper recycling, plastic/metal/glass recycling, and general trash. Bent held up pictures of various items – a diaper, old toast, a yogurt container, and a cereal box – while Nihit Shroff, age 5, of Westford, moved corresponding garbage can markers on a game board.
This is the 14th year in a row Bent has performed at the J.V. Fletcher Library. You can find out more about his shows on his website, AbraKidabra.
This program was paid for by the Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library. For details about the Summer Reading Program, and to see a schedule of Upcoming Programs, visit the J.V. Fletcher website.
Book List
Throughout the performance, Bent recommended books for further reading on the topics he presented. Here are his suggestions. (Note: Links will take you to the J.V. Fletcher Library’s website.)
There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Worm, by Lucille Colandro
50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth by EarthWorks Group
Fun and Easy Crafting with Recycled Materials by Kimberly McLeod
Can I Recycle This? A Kid’s Guide To Better Recycling by Jennie Romer
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom