Voices were thrown at Magness Library on Thursday to the delight of children.

Ventriloquist Joyce Carroll took part in the library’s Summer Reading Program, bringing three of her friends to entertain the children. 

A dog named Bingo brought the loudest laughter.

“We’re not going to sing ‘Wagon Wheel’ are we?” asked Carroll. 

Bingo replied, “No, when you sing that, it sounds like your axel is broken.”

“Be nice,” said Carroll. 

With Carroll’s husband Stuart on guitar, Bingo sang the children’s marching song “Nick Nack Paddy Whack.” Children joined the lyrics. 

This year’s Summer Reading Program is called “A Universe of Stories” with an astronomy theme. Carroll included that subject into her skits. 

“Have you read any good books?” she asked. 

Bingo replied, “I read one about an astronaut that went to the moon.”

Said Carroll, “That would be quite a journey don’t you think?”

Bingo replied, “Yep. I think I’d like to go there one day. I’d be the first dog in space.”

“Sorry to tell you this, Bingo, but there has already been one. He tried to make it to the moon.”

Bingo, “I want to go because I’ve heard that they don’t have any ticks up there.”

“You only want to go because there’s no ticks up there?” Bingo, “Well, I’d still be the first luna-tick to go.”

“You’re a little silly.”

The entertainer is a mainstay during the library’s Summer Reading Program. 

“Joyce is really good,” said Kathy Winton of library technical services. “She’s been offering her show at the library for about 25 years. She’s always the first one we book for our Summer Reading Program. The children love her.” 

 Magness Library has a goal to foster a love of reading and its rewards during each summer break.