Among the creatures he shaped, to the accompaniment of music and his jovial patter, were Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Elmo of Sesame Street, ducks and puppies.  He also revealed his mechanical side, building a helicopter around one young man and then, in a spectacular finale, hosted a visit from the man-eating balloon.  

Holladay is based in Dallas and travels among library locations all over the country spreading the message of literacy being fun.  His trick involving the ever-transforming coloring book and then his display of the talking book drawing gave him the chance to talk up the value of books and reading, and indeed many youngsters remained at the library after the show with their parents to pick out something good.

The Balloon Man’s appearance was the first in Nevada County Library’s “Color Our World” Summer Reading Series.  Next up will be The Circus Man, appearing Tuesday July 8th at the City Park Pavilion.  BIG Poppa Bubble arrives Tuesday July 15th at 10:30 a.m. at the City Park Pavilion.  Then the series finishes with Wild Things Zoofari on Tuesday July 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at the library again.