43
Library event opens up whole new world
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During her reading of "Wombat Stew," librarian Karen Saunders (left) asked library guest Alonzo Davis (right) to add her own imaginary ingredient to the wombat stew.
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .While being wrapped like a mummy in a roll of toilet paper, story time guest Lydia Davis (center) admitted that her bindings were surprisingly comfortable and cozy.
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During an exploration of Egypt, story time guests "walked like Egyptians" to the Steve Martin tune "King Tut."
By SARAH FOOR
On July 12, visitors to the Boardman library traveled to four corners of the earth while only exploring the four corners of the facility’s activity room. With books from the library and a bit of imagination, Boardman librarians Cheryl Bellanca and Karen Saunders explored China, Australia, Egypt and Antarctica during their “Around the World in 60 Minutes” story time.
Bellanca and Saunders welcomed their guests by offering a name tag and passport to each child to ensure safe travels. In each corner of the library’s activity room, cultural artifacts and books available from the library shared information on the lands of China, Australia, Egypt, and Antarctica.
Through stories and games, the Boardman librarians taught their guests about each country.
“China has over 4,000 years of recorded history. It is home to the world’s highest mountain and large plateaus and deserts,” Bellanca shared. The librarian read the Chinese folktale “Tikki Tikki Tembo” by Arlene Mosel.
For Saunders’ visit to Australia, she asked a group of young readers to help her make the imaginary recipe for “Wombat Stew,” explored in Marcia Vaughan’s book. A wombat, emu, platypus, lizard, and koala all gave their suggestions for the stew during the reading.
To explore ancient Egypt, the group walked like Egyptians to Steve Martin’s song “King Tut” and played a mummy wrap game with toilet paper.
Mummy Lydia Davis didn’t have any problems with being wrapped up tight in the strips of white paper.
“You wouldn’t think so, but it’s really comfortable and cozy all bundled,” Davis said before ripping out of her wrappings.
In the last trip to Antarctica, the guests enjoyed complimentary ice-cold popsicles.
Guests left with four new stamps on their passport and a better understanding of cultures from around the world.