Magician John Cressman brought his slight-of-hand tricks to entertain the preschool children of Ebenezer United Church of Christ as they celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday March 7.

The Cat in the Hat and his friends, Thing 1 and Thing 2, also attended.

The party was arranged by Preschool Director Deb Wanamaker.

Cressman's program began and ended with balloons.

"If you can name an animal, I can't make, you'll get a prize," he told the kids.

The suggestion of a sheep and a zebra were new ones, but he made them.

"Reach in your pocket. What are you getting out? Put your listening ears on and turn them up.

"Use your imagination. Does anyone know a magic word?" he asked.

It took some guidance until they came up with "Abracadabra."

He held up a magic meter and they had to say it loud enough for magic to move the meter to nine. They went a little above that and the meter broke.

He then showed them a coloring book with no pictures.

Lillianna Serfass was asked to come up and help him using a magic wand.

First they created pictures and then colored them and erased them for the next group he entertained.

Ben Missimer used the magic wand to create the right color of scarfs that Cressman pulled out of a container to create an American flag red, white and blue though there were a few mistakes such as when most of the flag turned blue.

Cressman used the book "Treasure Island," and drew a picture of Blackbeard the pirate.

When he wasn't looking the children were excited as the eyes and then the mouth moved.

The paper ship broke and Blackbeard had to swim to shore.

The map they were looking for was broken up in the water, but magic put it back together.

Charles Kelton was Cressman's helper as they went through the pirate story.

For Dr. Seuss' birthday they wanted to give him some chocolate as in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The first piece was too small but magic made it grow into a big bar.

Ava Marth floated in air as Cressman performed his final trick, then Cressman went back to creating balloon animals one for each child.

Cake, pretzels and chips were offered and the program was over except for some comments by Miss Deb.

She told the children the parents had to read them a book every night for the next eight weeks.

When 10 books were read, the child could put a raffle ticket in a jar in a drawing for a bag of books.

Their present for Dr. Seuss' birthday was a book packet containing the "Napping House Book" and a goodie bag.

As it was "Red Fish Friday," each child received a red gummy fish on the way out.