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March 28, 2024 11:27 am
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Water Fun At Last Summer Storytime

By BRYNNE MCMURRAY

Moapa Valley Progress

Librarian scientists Professor Wilhelm Friedrich (Naomi Harris) and Dr. Einstein von Moustache (Maggie McMurray) give each other a thumbs up while demonstrating science at the Moapa Valley Library. PHOTO BY BRYNNE MCMURRAY/Moapa Valley Progress.

This week, the Moapa Valley library ended its regular series of Summer Reading programs with a bang; or rather, a splash! Hints as to the subject of the day were plentiful as the program began with the librarians reading a few books to the kids.

Just as the many kids present realized the day’s theme must be water, the theme from the movie Jaws began to play. As the ominous tune played, kids looked around them anxiously until they saw the resident librarian mad scientist duo swimming their way into the room each wearing their usual white coat and aprons, but with the unusual addition of shark fins on their backs.

The attendees giggled as the mad scientists made their way to the front of the room, pausing to gnaw on a few attendees on the way.

They began with experiments that demonstrated that air had mass and could not be displaced by water and that the surface tension of water seemed to defy gravity.

The third experiment was a little tricky. They filled two plastic sandwich bags with water and grabbed two pencils. Using the pencil, Dr. Von Moustache stabbed the bag, sending the pencil through the water and both sides of the bag without spilling a drop. He didn’t, however, share his secret and when Professor Fredrich attempted the same trick, it failed, spilling water all over. However, Fredrich got his revenge when he used a dense salt water solution to make an egg float, while Von Moustache, who used fresh water, stood beside him and sadly watched his egg sink.

Dr. Einstein von Moustache demonstrates the power of Mentos® candy dropped into a bottle of soda at Friday’s final regular Summer Reading program at the Library in Overton. PHOTO BY BRYNNE MCMURRAY/Moapa Valley Progress.

Then the pair filled two cups with water and green food coloring. They asked several members of the audience to take the color out. Of course, none of the volunteers could. They then revealed that Oxi-Clean and bleach could suck the color right out of water. Comparing the two though, the doctors saw that the bleach worked much better, and faster, to take the green out of the liquid.

Fredrich took advantage of the break between experiments to have a little fun. He whipped out a squirting bath toy and shot a small stream of water at Von Moustache. However, Dr. Moustache was not to be outdone and whipped out a giant water gun and proceeded to soak not only his assistant, but also any children sitting in the “splash zone.”

While everyone was laughing, the scientists set up for their next demonstration. They had previously prepared two soda bottles and filled them with water and glitter. They turned the bottles around and around and eventually created a miniature water tornado! Everyone was very impressed, but the show was not over.

Of course, the duo moved everyone outside for their classic “Big Boom” to conclude the program. They lined up a bunch of two liter sodas and both carried multiple packs of Mentos® candy. The result was a big boom indeed. The highest rocket belonged to the diet Shasta soda that shot over the library roof! It was an impressive display of soda power.

Afterwards, the kids were free to make tinfoil marshmallow boats and have a water fight. Many of the children teamed up to soak the two professors, who battled back with their squirt guns. When it began to rain, it just added to the fun and eventually everyone was sopping wet and laughing.

Parent Lisa Lacy said, “The Summer Reading Program is great. My kids love it. It has been a great incentive to get some reading done. It was a lot of fun.”

Megan Cook, a participant in the Summer Reading Program says, “I’m going to miss the mad scientists. They’re really funny.”

The library mad scientists won’t be gone for long though, they will be wreaking mischief again beginning on September 5 at 4:00 pm as the fall storytime series begins.

Before that, though, the library will be having one last special guest performer. The library will be hosting kid favorite DJ Tony, on Friday at 11:15 am at the Community Center next to the library to officially wrap up Summer Reading. Everyone is invited to come and have a blast!

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