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Library kicks off summer reading program
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman .Bad Kitty's running mate, Olivia Delboccio (left) and Edna Prunelove, portrayed by Candace DiLullo, (right) waited for the election results during the "Bad Kitty for President" event June 19 at the Poland library.
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman.Maya Littleton showed her Bad Kitty campaign sign during the "Bad Kitty for President" event June 19 at the Poland library.
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman .Narrator Jacob Nash (left) and Bad Kitty, portrayed by Hollis Bernacki, acted out one of the scenes from "Bad Kitty for President" June 19 at the Poland library.
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman .Narrator Jacob Nash talked to the audience about elections during the "Bad Kitty for President" event at the Poland library June 19.
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman .Edna Prunelove, portrayed by Candance DiLullo, read to the children during the "Bad Kitty for President" event at the Poland library June 19.
By ADRIENNE CRISSMAN
The Poland library kicked off its summer reading program June 19 with a party that included a performance of Nick Bruel’s “Bad Kitty for President” by the Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theatre.
“Today is a very important day. Today we will decide who will be the new president of the Neighborhood Cat Club,” said Jacob Nash, the narrator.
Bernie Appugliese, director of the Youth Theatre, adapted the skit from Bruel’s book.
“I used all of Bruel’s words,” said Appugliese. “I wanted as much audience participation as possible and the children to learn about the basics of an election.”
The audience received a visit from Edna Prunelove, portrayed by Candace DiLullo, who helped the children through the election process and taught them what words like “primary” and “caucus” meant. Olivia Delboccio was chosen as the opponent to run against Bad Kitty, played by Hollis Bernacki.
After the attendees created campaign signs, heard a debate about the issue with stray cats and casted their votes, Delboccio was named the new president of the Neighborhood Cat Club.
Vikki Peck, children’s librarian, said the event was an official start to the summer reading program, which began June 1.
“We wanted to get the kids excited about reading,” said Peck “We also wanted the kids to get excited about ‘Bad Kitty’, since author Nick Bruel will be here for a Bad Kitty breakfast bash on July 30.”
For attending the event, children received one credit hour toward their summer reading log, as well as a free milkshake coupon for Eat’n Park.