A group of 46 children and their parents or grandparents danced and sang about healthy habits with Miss Maggie during the Kutztown Community Library Summer Reading Program on June 23.
Peggy Gernerd is Miss Maggie, a children’s performer. With her guitar in hand, Gernerd sang songs from her CD Stay Healthy with Miss Maggie, including a song about living, being healthy and strong. She asked the children to show them her muscles. One child shouted out that he can lift a car and a house.
“Oh my goodness gracious! We have strong kids,” said Miss Maggie.
She asked them a few good choices they made that day. A few responses were coming to the library, listening to their teachers, eating breakfast and brushing their teeth.
“They’ll make you feel happy, they’ll make you feel strong, so eat these good foods all day long,” sang Miss Maggie, getting the children to clap along. “Your bones will get stronger, your teeth will get whiter, you’ll have more energy and what could be finer.”
There were also opportunities for children to volunteer, one helping with Spaghetti Head Fred the puppet from Kutztown and others who played inflatable guitars or shook noise makers to a rock song.
After the show, Addison Henninger, 7, and her sister Jordan, 5, of Rockland Township, even had the opportunity to pose for a photo with Miss Maggie and Spaghetti Head Fred.
Kutztown Community Library Youth Librarian Taylor Kutz said the Summer Reading Program is going great so far. She said this year’s theme “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!” is a great topic that they can do a lot with, scheduling programs around such topics as sports and eating healthy.
“Miss Maggie has a great message, eating healthy. She’s very enthusiastic. And she was very excited to come to Kutztown. She went to school here (Kutztown University). She loves the town here,” said Kutz. “I thought it was great to have her.”
Gernerd started performing children’s shows 11 years ago, because at that time her children were young. Every year she creates a show for libraries. This year she didn’t need to write a new show. The Summer Reading Program theme fits her stay healthy show. She writes her own songs for her shows.
“I love getting the kids involved, getting them to learn something. My shows are educational and fun,” said Gernerd. “I want to try to teach kids something.”
Gernerd also performs with her husband in Maggie Spike. They recently performed at the Taste of Kutztown.
For more information about Miss Maggie, visit www.missmaggiesings.com.
