The Friends of the Library hope a &uot;Magical Celebration&uot; inspires a love of reading in children who attended the event Saturday at the Armstrong Library.

&uot;If they start reading early and using the library they are readers forever,&uot; said Donna Janky, library director.

The Friends of the Library sponsored the event in honor of National Library Week.

A group of about 25 children had their faces painted and played games with magical themes such as playing hopscotch on pieces of carpet to simulate a magic carpet ride and tossing cardboard throws into a large magician’s hat.

They later saw a magic show by local magician, Burnley Cook, and huddled around Bil &uot;Uncle Bil&uot; Pinney to receive balloons contorted into a variety of animal shapes.

Many of the children said they enjoyed the magician, who dazzled them with disappearing flowers and rabbits that changed colors.

&uot;I thought it was fun,&uot; said 11-year-old Grant Benoit.

Eight-year-old Kayla Smith said her favorite magic trick was &uot;when he made the flowers appear and he didn’t notice.&uot;

Jeanie Wedgeworth, president of the Friends of the Library, agreed the purpose of the program went beyond magic tricks and balloons.

The event gets children into the library and, she hopes, will stimulate their interest in what the library has to offer, she said.

&uot;The earlier they are exposed to it the more interest they will carry through (life),&uot; Wedgeworth said.