Event highlights 'magic of reading' event at Kepler's Event highlights 'magic of reading' event at Kepler's (April 28, 2004)

Music, song and prizes will be part of the 10th annual "Celebrate the Magic of Reading" on Saturday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. The event is co-sponsored by Kepler's and Friends of the Menlo Park Library.

The program begins at 9 a.m. with the combined orchestras of Oak Knoll and Encinal schools making their first public appearances. The program will progress by grade with performers from Oak Knoll, Encinal and Hillview schools taking part.

From 1:30 to 3 p.m. the Menlo-Atherton Jazz and Concert Bands will perform.

Kepler's will donate a portion of the sales of children's books made during the celebration to the Belle Haven Community Library in Menlo Park. The store will also hold drawings for free children's books.

Local businesses, including the Almanac, are taking part in the celebration. SCORE will provide free face painting and prizes. Lenscrafters will provide the drawing's grand prize worth $150. Local eateries, including Carpaccio, Left Bank, Round Table, Cafe Borrone, Dutch Goose and the Oasis, have donated gift certificates to the event since its inception 10 years ago.

As he has for nine of the past 10 years, Tim Goode of Menlo Park serves as chairman of the event. In 1994 he was one of the Menlo Park library commissioners who suggested that the library explore a partnership with Kepler's to promote reading and use of the library, after learning the Palo Alto Library had successfully partnered with Printers Inc.

"As a high school English teacher, I wanted to give the gift of reading to our children," he says.

For more information, call Kepler's, 324-4321.

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