Library develops young readers

Photo

Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Librarian Nicole Pahulla read the book "Bears, Bears, Bears" by Bob Barner at the Baby Brilliant event at the Austintown library Nov. 27.

Photo

Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Quinn Laraway danced to the song "The Noble Duke" at the Austintown library Nov. 27. As part of the library's goal to encourage language and reading skills, children practiced saying familiar rhymes and songs throughout the Baby Brilliant event.

Photo

Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Megan Blakeman (back) brought her daughter, Sophia, to the Austintown library Nov. 27 for the Baby Brilliant event.

Photo

Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Dean Suzelis (front) clapped along with songs and rhymes at the Austintown library's Baby Brilliant event Nov. 27. He is pictured with his mother.

By NATALIE SCOTT

nscott@vindy.com

The Austintown library hosted another of its Baby Brilliant events Dec. 4, designed to encourage reading in children ages 2 and under.

This event focused on a cat/kitten theme and focused on the point that if caregivers use specific names for things, like cat and kitten, children will learn new words and they will understand the difference between similar things, in this case, that a kitten is the young version of a cat.

Librarian Madeline Dunchak began the event by singing “If You Are Happy and You Know It” and encouraging children and parents to participate using hand motions. She then read “The Three Little Kitties” by Anna Alter and followed it up with the poem “Five Kittens in the Bed.” This poem is perfect for introducing children to counting, as each kitten is counted when it leaps off the bed.

To add a new activity to the event, Dunchak recited “Fat Cat’s Feathered Friends,” a poem that includes a story and when you draw out the parts of the story, the silhouette of a cat is formed.

Story time ended with an opportunity for children and parents present to socialize.

To learn more about the Public Library of Mahoning County and the Baby Brilliant events, visit www.libraryvisit.org or visit the library and speak to any librarian.