The magic of Mugwump
Stories and their characters help stoke a child's creative abilities. Some books help develop a child's sense of the world as a place with unlimited potential, a world where magic makes the impossible possible. Mervyn J. Mugwump, professor of enchantment, fosters children's imaginations and reading skills through his mystical show "Wizardry 101: The Magic of Books."
Mugwump, who was inspired by the works of fantasy authors, meets with kids 10 to 14 today at two Harford County libraries to teach them elementary magic. With comical flair, Mugwump (known in the Muggle world as Jeb Brack) conjures characters, transforms tales, brings stories to life, whips up potions and makes things disappear. He does all this using only words, the obligatory wand and quick hands, propelled by a strong faith that kids want to believe in him.
Expect to see a heavy Harry Potter influence, along with magical examples taken straight out of tales such as C. S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia," J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," and T. H. White's "The Once and Future King." Joppa Branch Library: 1 p.m., 655 Towne Center Drive, 410-612-1660; Aberdeen Branch Library: 7 p.m., 21 Franklin St., 410-273-5608.