Magician Puts a Spell on Getting Kids to Read at Provinces Library

Magic and books.  A combination that’s now seemingly inseparable after J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series changed the scope of reading for the tween and teen set.

But for magician Joe Romano, it’s a concoction he’s been mixing for over a decade to encourage the wonder of reading for children throughout the area.

On Monday, Severn’s Provinces Library hosted Romano and his show titled “Books! The Magic is Real” featuring more than 30 minutes of magic which left many children spellbound by his performance.

Romano, of Alexandria, VA., took advantage of the recent Harry Potter craze and got the kids excited by referencing the books, the film and using playful magic spells like “balloonis poppis” to make balloons pop to reveal a participant’s card.

As the magician discussed his favorite books, like “The Cat in the Hat” and “Snowflake Bentley,” Romano also playfully made “mistakes” throughout the show, which were always greeted with high-pitched bellows of laughter from the young audience.

When asked for a volunteer, most kids waved their arms in the air to capture his attention.  After picking one, Romano then used his magic to enable the kids to perform the tricks, leaving many volunteers dumbfounded as to how they performed the miraculous feats.

“Opening up a book is like catching a snowflake and opening it up in your hand,” Romano said to the audience. “Each one contains a bit of magic.”

By making subtle references to humorous parts of books like “the Cheese Touch” from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” Romano related to the young readers and made an effort to connect the power of reading with success in the classroom too.

“When you read on your own, in the classroom, you have a step up,” Romano said.

The magician also said he tries to help kids stay open about reading and hopes that his show can lead children to find books that actually appeal to them.

“Reading now for kids, it’s turned into big events like the Harry Potter premieres. Before Potter, I can’t remember that,” Romano said. “It’s about helping them find the right stuff.”

As a magician who has performed for 24 years, Romano said he loves books but that the children’s expressions are what make him happiest.

“As adults we’re cynical, but kids keep that wonder,” said Romano. “When I get fooled [at a magic show] I get a taste of what they see when I perform.”

Romano will continue to perform throughout Anne Arundel County Libraries and will potentially perform a much larger scale of his skills at the back-to-school night for Jessup Elementary. Again, it’s a great time to be a magician, said Romano.

“Every time one of those [Harry Potter] movies come out, it’s good for business.”