Puppets Make Splash at Bar Harbour Library

Although the school year has come to a close, there's no reason to stay out of the library. In an effort to encourage summer reading while promoting the theme, "Make a Splash, Read," which is being used by libraries nationwide, the Massapequa Public Library at Bar Harbour held a children's puppet show on Wednesday entitled "Splashtastic."

"We want kids to come to the library and we want to keep them activated,"  the library's Jody Brower  said.

Having worked with ventriloquist Steve Petruzzella of Petra Puppets in the past, the staff at Bar Harbour thought his sea-creature puppets would be a great way to entertain the children and encourage them to take out books throughout the summer.

Petruzzella adorned the small stage with book covers found in the children's section while he performed with his puppet shark and starfish, among other animals.

"I like it when  [children] laugh and when something in the show is a catalyst to their interests," said Petruzella, who performs interactive and educational assembly programs throughout Long Island.

He began his act with an octopus puppet. Children laughed watching the eight-armed creature handle a cell-phone and discuss his love life with "Luna the Tuna." But they also learned that they could  find out more about the animal by taking out library books.

Not only were the children cracking up, they were thinking, too. Petruzzella's second friend, "Penelope the Seal," provided them with the opportunity to apply skills they've learned in school.

"What's the eighth letter of the alphabet," Petruzzella asked. As soon as he heard the group shout "H," he whipped out a plastic hamburger for Penelope to balance on her nose, which was a huge crowd pleaser.

Other puppets had the children reading and counting.

"Starbucks the Starfish" was the most musical act. As Petruzzella hummed a Strauss waltz from his partially closed lips, he joked that he was drenched in "starfish saliva" and needed a dry towel. Unfortunately, the towel was labeled "wet," as the young audience saw and immediately brought to his attention. He called upon a young boy, Dylan, to help him out. After Dylan aired the towel out with a small fan, Petruzzella flipped the towel to the "dry" side, which the children read aloud with a sense of accomplishment and relief.

The final puppet, "Clark the Shark," was inhaling hotdogs. As one hotdog link led to another, the children counted each one. Petruzzella joked that Clark really didn't snack on Nathan's hot dogs, but actually feeds on other creatures in the ocean, a fact  he learned about through books.

How could we tell the event was successful?

"I know everything about sharks," a young boy said to Petruzzella at the show's conclusion. Petruzzella, getting down on his knee, asked the young boy how he has come to know everything about sharks.

"Because I read about them," he said.

"When they have a good time, I have a great time," Petruzzella said.

The library will also be hosting another puppet show on August 10th at 7:00 and a magic show on July 14th at7:00. Call 516-799-0770 to reserve tickets.