Library hosts spooktacular story time

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Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Alexis Beaudis wore a wicked costume to the Austintown library's Talk for 2's and 3's Oct. 21 storytime.

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Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Solenna DeJesus (left) and Mara Vargo listened to a Halloween story at the Austintown Library. The children attended the library's Talk for 2's and 3's Storytime Oct. 21.

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Neighbors | Submitted .Judy Sluss (right) told a Halloween version of the "Old Lady That Lived in a Fly" to eager children. The Austintown library hosted a special Halloween storytime Oct. 21.

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Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Children ages 2 and 3 gathered at the Austintown Library Oct. 21 for a special Halloween twist to the library's weekly Talk for 2's and 3's Storytime.

The Austintown library hosts the Talk for 2’s and 3’s Story time every week, but their special Halloween story time on Oct. 21 included many more unique guests than normal.

It didn’t take long to figure out, however that guests like Princess Leia, the Wicked Witch of the West, a dinosaur, and a garden gnome were just familiar story time faces in costume.

Judy Sluss hosted the event, decked out in a wizard costume, and assured the little readers and their parents that the purpose of the story time wouldn’t be lost in the Halloween fun.

“Above all else, the stories and games we’re playing today are helping our little ones learn literacy skills. It’s just that our stories are about ghosts and pumpkins and witches — just for today,” she said.

The story time included many well-known stories changed into Halloween-appropriate faire, including five little witches adopted from three little monkeys, and a version of “The Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly” changed into her swallowing a bat, then a cat, owl, and ghost.

The craft included in the storytime was a ghost on a string, which had the children offering sound effects all the way out of the library.