By DEBORAH HORN Leader staff writer
At times—well, most of the time—the kids seemed to play quidditch with all the competency of their “Harry Potter” counterparts.
At other times, the players were overcome with laughter. On at least one occasion, two players turned their broomsticks into swords.
Their battle was short lived.
However, one thing all the kids seemed to agree on—they had a good time at Monday’s Harry Potter Day at the Amy Sanders Library in Sherwood.
The children who attended the activity, which was part of the library’s seven-week summer reading club, ranging in ages from about 6 to 13.
Mollie Messick, 13, and her sister Callie, 11, both agreed that they had fun.
Plus, Mollie said, “It brought the game to life for me.”
The girls’ mother, Elizabeth Messick of Sherwood, homeschools her four children and said the library’s summer programs’ offerings have been varied, sometimes educational and interesting but other times just for fun.
Either way, she said, “My kids enjoy it.” In fact, she said her children noticed that the Sherwood library offers more kids’ summer programs than many other libraries in central Arkansas.
“It’s really an awesome library,” Messick said about the Sherwood branch that is part of the larger Central Arkansas Library System.
Anne Frymark, teen programmer, said she is always on the lookout for programming inspiration. Monday’s activity was designed to spark the kid’s interest in the new “Harry Potter” that is set to be released on Saturday.
She said the library’s summer programs started in June with Tie-dye Day and wrapped up on Friday with a “big Water Washout Party.”
This year’s kids and teen summer programs have ranged from educational, such as healthy cooking to fire safety, and included visits from local museums, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission personnel and more.
In addition, the staff also offers story time and STEAM (science, technology, engineer, arts and mathematics) for kids, as well as programs for adults.
Basically there’s a program happening every day and they’re all free.
“We encourage everyone to come and have fun…I love seeing our regulars,’ Frymark said.
Ian Draeger, 11, said about the summer program, “Normally, we have a good time. If it sounds like fun, it usually is,” and his sister, Haley Draeger, 12, agreed.
The two said they have been coming to the program “for years,” and would definitely recommend it to others.
They certainly didn’t want to miss Monday afternoon’s quidditch game, followed by a lesson on making magic potions.
“We’re big ‘Harry Potter’ fans,” Ian said.
