Duck story time gets children quacking

By NATALIE SCOTT

nscott@vindy.com

The Boardman library hosted a duck-filled story time for babies aged 6-24 months April 12 with librarian Katherina Matasic. Ducks, being a symbol of spring and warmer weather, were very popular with the young children at the story time, especially because the library offered many stuffed animal ducks and duck puppets for the children to play with after the event. The ducks were also handy tools to use to teach children vocabulary, such as the difference between a duck and a duckling, and helping children connect the pictures they see in books to the words that are being read.

Matasic began by reading “This Is My Duck” by Sam Taplin, a touch-and-feel book that included duck noises. The story was about a duck and the various characteristics that ducks have, such as orange bills, soft white wings, and webbed feet. The touch-and-feel book offered children the opportunity to uses their senses to discover the story. Other books read at the story time included “Quack!” by Phyllis Root and “One Rainy Day” by Tammi Salzano.

Rhymes and finger-plays were also performed at the story time, such as “Duck Comes,” “Five Little Ducks,” “I Saw a Little Duck,” and “Quack! Quack!” These activities got children moving and interacting with the words that were being used in the rhymes.

The story time ended with play time and interaction for both the parents and the children.