MASSENA - Magician Terri-Lynn Hunter conjured up a full house this week at the Massena Public Library as she helped kick off the summer reading program.

It didn’t take magic, however, to enjoy the wonders of reading, she said.

“All you have to do is real simple - go up to the front counter” and sign up, Ms. Hunter told the crowd that filled every seat in the main reading room.

Ms. Hunter, who has been sharing her love of magic with audiences for more than 15 years, made sure many of those in the audience had an opportunity to participate right from the get-go, when she invited Sarah Shattuck up to help her with a star spangled trick.

“Anybody know what’s going to happen tomorrow?” she asked during her Tuesday presentation, talking about the next day’s Independence Day festivities. “I’m going to need a helper so we can get this party started.”

It was an afternoon when fingers doubled as magic wands, meaning the entire room could help Ms. Hunter with her illusions - as long as they said the magic words of “pink potato chips.”

“Wands up. Up and down. Back and forth. Say pink potato chips,” she said as her assistant led the demonstration on how to properly use their wands.

It was more than just an afternoon of magic though, with some humor thrown in. For one demonstration, Ms. Hunter poured water from a teapot. But it was of varying colors every time she poured it into a glass.

“That’s looks like Windex,” she said, looking at a blue-colored glass of water. “Maybe if I had the urge to streak.”

Her appearance was sponsored by NBT Bank of Massena, but it was just one of several events being held as part of the summer reading program.

The library will welcome “pop artist” Michael Albert for a workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Monday. His visit is sponsored by SeaComm Federal Credit Union.

His program will include a short presentation to tell the group about his life as an artist and author, and then he’ll present numerous examples of his work. Following that, Mr. Albert will lead a cereal box collage workshop.

Pete the Pirate will make his inaugural visit to the Massena Public Library at 2 p.m. July 13, presenting a show that features live music, magic and ventriloquist puppets.

Zoo animals from the Thompson Park Zoo in Watertown will make a return appearance at 2 p.m. July 17, and library activities will shift to the Robert Moses State Park Nature Center at 10 a.m. July 19 for a program called “Let’s Go Camping!@ The Nature Center.” The day will include a pre-school “storywalk” hike, several camp crafts and marshmallow roasting over the campfire. It concludes with a S’Mores snack.

A tie-dye T-shirt workshop led by Ty Danboise will be held at 10 a.m. July 23. Participants will learn how to use different colored dyes to create a unique T-shirt.

The end-of-program skating party will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. July 31 a the St. Lawrence Centre arena. It will include snacks and prizes along with the skating.

Weekly craft programs will also be held at 10 a.m. July 11, 18 and 25, and Friday afternoon movies will be shown at 2 p.m. July 20 and 27.

Young readers are also encouraged to continue picking up books over the summer.

Those who record 100 minutes of reading over the summer receive a free book, an ice cream certificate from Stewart’s Shops and an invitation to join the end-of-program skating party. Anyone who reads 200 minutes also receives another free book and coupons from Subway and Burger King.

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