Children cool off a library event

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Neighbors | Christine Keeling.Four-year-old Lilly Ditz cautiously balanced a sponge on a water noodle during a race at the Boardman library July 22. More than 20 kids participated at the library's Carnival Castaways event.

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Neighbors | Christine Keeling.Children at the Boardman branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County bounced balls on a parachute during Carnival Castaways July 22. The event was part of the library's Make A Splash - Read summer reading program that runs through August.

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Neighbors | Christine Keeling.Seven-year-old Janus Barredo tossed a ring on a flower at the Boardman library's Carnival Castaways July 22. The event had a variety of water fun for children.

More than 20 children traded books for spray bottles at the Boardman branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s Castaways Carnival July 22.

The outdoor water activity was part of the library’s summer reading program and included a water noodle and sponge throwing contest, ring toss, parachute beach ball bounce and sponge race. A spray bottle was used to add a twist to the popular kids game Duck, Duck, Goose.

Boardman resident Elizabeth Crowther brought her three kids, Jonas, Noelle and Samuel, to the event and was surprised the activities were outside.

“The kids love to come and it keeps them interested,” said Crowther. “This summer program has been one of the better ones.”

The library’s Make a Splash – Read program will continue through August.

On Wednesday at 10 a.m., children pre-K through fifth grade can participate in the Green Team and Youngstown Litter Control and Recycling’s program based on the book “One Less Fish” at the Boardman branch of the library.

Children will make a decorative fish from used CDs and scrap paper and receive a coloring book.