Dear Children's Librarian:

Now is the time to book Alberti's awesome Magic for Muggles workshop!

By far it was the most heavily attended program we have ever had. The children that attended have been asking for a repeat program and parents are asking for a grown-up magic program!"
George H. Taylor, Jr., Branch Manager, Reynolda Manor Branch Library

Thank you for coming to Alberti's website to learn more about the Magic for Muggles, workshop. The workshop brings Harry Potter fans to the library for two hours of fun, magic, and storytelling, but most importantly, it encourages children to use the library as a resource for pursuing their interests. It is truly a reading program, challenging those who have read the Harry Potter books to remember what they have read and challenging those who have only seen the movies to read the books and see what they have missed.

During the workshop, the "muggle" children at your library learn how to do the kinds of things that Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron Weasley are doing at their school of magic, Hogwarts. The children learn easy-to-do magic tricks - no sleight-of-hand or special skill is required. They learn to make inanimate objects seemingly move just by wiggling their fingers, and even to predict their parents' future.

Your readers will love learning to do magic tricks using the same method J.K. Rowling has her heroes-Harry, Hermione, and Ron-experience in her books: a combination of lessons and hands-on exercises that make learning fun.

Drawing from the ideas found in storybook magic, they learn how to use "Leprechaun Gold," train magical creatures, and go on enchanting adventures such as "Save the Elf." Perhaps more importantly, they learn to perform the tricks in a way that entertains their audience. Their reading and their learning take on a new value.

The benefits that accrue to the children from performing magic tricks are (to borrow a word from the kids) awesome. Performing magic tricks builds self-confidence and self-esteem. It improves eye-hand co-ordination. It improves social and communication skills. It teaches kids to successfully relate to peers and adults. It encourages reading. And, all of this happens automatically while the kids are having fun.

By offering a program based on the reading children are doing, you will be engaging their imaginations, challenging and rewarding their interest in reading, helping them to expand their abilities, and encouraging new readers who haven't been involved in library programs before.

The program offers you an opportunity to further encourage the children to become library patrons by displaying related books that they can check out-fiction, fantasy, and how-to magic and craft books. And, there are even a few minutes at the end of the program available for you to talk about all the library has to offer the children and their parents.

The Magic for Muggles workshop will accept up to 100 children as long as you have space for them. All you need is floor space, one table, and a chair. Everything else is provided. The children sit on the floor, working in the space in front of them. Alberti brings all the props.

Other than a clean floor, there is no additional set up, and there will be no need for post-workshop cleanup. It is all done for you.

With almost 100 kids in the workshop at the Reynolda Manor Library in Winston-Salem, the Head Librarian came in to see why it was so quiet. What he found was involved, occupied children absorbed in learning how to defy the laws of gravity, not the rules of the library.

"The experience was all we expected and more. ... The children all went home to perform their magic tricks on others and then reported to us all the fun they had."
Pat Gwyn, Branch Librarian, Mount Airy Public Library

The length of the workshop is 2 hours, including a 10-minute break. The cost is $250.00 for the workshop plus a $3.00 materials fee for each child. (The children get a wonderful bag of tricks, including a "real" magic wand, to take home with them).

I do require that you limit the workshop to children ages 7 and older and that the children be pre-registered, but we can continue to register at the door for up to the maximum of 100 children (if the space allows).

The kids don't have to travel to Hogwarts. They can make the short trip to your library. There they will earn their very own Wizard's Certificate as they spend two fun-filled hours learning magic tricks based on their reading.

You receive the praise for an exciting, successful program. And in response to our two most often asked questions (Can you do it again? And, will you do the workshop for adults?) we can do both.

Alberti has enough material to do repeat bookings and we are now offering a Magic for Muggles workshop for parents and children scheduled at a time convenient for parents (and grandparents). There are only a limited number of dates available for this adult/child workshop-including some during National Library Week in April, for those who are interested.

Don't delay! Call Jim Alberti now (336)727-0480 or e-mail him at alberti@albertichildrensprogram.com to reserve your dates.

Cordially,

Jim Alberti

P.S. Parents are always invited to observe, or you can schedule a special child/parent Magic for Muggles Workshop.

P.P.S. Don't forget -- a money back guarantee, amazing promotional possibilities, and the easiest class you will ever offer. Call, write, or e-mail us today!