The Luverne Public Library showed off the magic of reading with its first event of the 2025 Summer Reading program. 

The event on Friday, June 6, was one of the larger events planned for the 2025 summer reading program highlighting the overarching theme for the year, Color Our World.

“[these events] bring kids in. I’ve always known as long as I’ve been here that if you bring them in and they see the books, they’ll want a library card,” said Director of the Luverne Public Library Kathryn Tomlin. “When they’re little they love to read, so, we are encouraging that, getting them in here and seeing what’s here.” 

The library invited Larry Darnell, also known as Mr. Larry of Mr. Larry’s Magic Show, to put on a magic show which opens the facility’s summer season. During the show, Darnell taught children the importance of reading, creativity and the different colors that make up their world.

“When we use magic to emphasize certain things within reading or character values, kids remember; they come to me a year [sometimes two] years later and can tell me almost verbatim what we talked about [or] what the magic word was…” Darnell said. “They remember those things because having fun makes the difference, it burns into their mind that way.” 

During the show, Darnell used magical tricks to teach different concepts including what the primary colors are and how they can mix to create new colors. He also invited children in attendance to help with some of the tricks and games, and offered them snack-size skittles for their efforts. 

“What’s fun to me is seeing the kids,” Tomlin said. “I was watching a little boy who was sitting [in the audience] and he was just laughing so hard and I thought, ‘That’s what makes it, when you see the kids having a good time.’” 

While the library hosts dedicated, age-appropriate sessions throughout the summer, the magic show was open to children of all ages. The next all-ages event will be a visit from the McWane Science Center’s Spark Wonder on June 13 at 10:30 a.m.

All 2025 Summer Reading Program events with the Luverne Public Library are free for attendees.