BP Oddo was joined at the event by former Congressman Fossella and Joan Correale of Barnes & Noble. Talented students at the school sang songs and performed ballet and traditional Lunar New Year dances for the crowd. “Magician Mike” Lane performed a magic show for the students. He is the author of the “Magic Shop” Series. As an added bonus to the challenge, “Magician Mike” will offer special prizes for the students who read his books and submit the best book report based on a book from his series. In addition, a special appearance was made by Scooter, the mascot for the Staten Island Yankees.
“You guys are joining a wonderful tradition,” said BP Oddo. “This is a truly special program that has brought the love of books into the lives of so many Staten Island children. Whatever you want to learn about, whatever place you want to go to, reading can take you there."
"Magic happens when you open and get lost in a book,” noted Nancy Murillo, principal of P.S. 38.
The program is sponsored by Barnes & Noble, CTV, Macmillan Publishing, “Magician Mike” Lane and the Staten Island Yankees.