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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Librarian John Yingling sang "Giddy-Up, Horsey," complete with hand claps, at Bonding with Babies and Books at the Boardman library on Aug. 8.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Boardman library's John Youngling read babies a pop-up book on Aug. 8 at Bonding with Babies and Books.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Children listened to a story at the Boardman library's Bonding with Babies and Books on Aug. 8.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.A man holds a book open for a baby to look at on Aug. 8 at the Boardman library's Bonding with Babies and Books.
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Neighbors | Zack Shivelyv.Parents and children read books at Bonding with Babies and Books at the Boardman library on Aug. 8.
By ZACK SHIVELY zshively@vindy.com
Boardman librarian John Yingling led a summer reading event for babies that included sing-alongs, pop-up books and play time at the Boardman library’s Bonding with Babies and Books on Aug. 8.
Yingling sat with a stuffed animal Snoopy on his lap and introduced himself. Then, he, along with all the parents and babies, sang “The More We Get Together,“ the song he uses to open each Bonding with Babies and Books event. The group sang more popular children’s songs, such as “If You’re Happy and You Know It.“ Most songs had a physical element to them, such as clapping or slapping a knee during “Giddy-Up.“ Later, they sang and acted out an identification song. The song asked the babies to point at their heads, knees, feet, the ceiling and the floor.
After the sing-alongs, Yingling led story time. The first book he read was “Itsy-Bitsy Spider.“ The following book, “Baby Signs,“ was a pop-up book about baby’s non-verbal communication. On each page, he showed the children the picture and the movement on the picture.
The children had the opportunity to play following the readings. Yingling pulled out a bag of toy animals, such as a giraffe and frog. He also brought out beach balls, plastic balls and a big toy die for the children to play with. The babies solved puzzles with big pieces with everyday objects on them, like fruit or vehicles. During this time, a radio lightly played children’s music.
The Boardman library hosts Bonding with Babies and Books events for children aged 6-23 months every Tuesday. Once school starts, they will begin having events for toddlers on Wednesday. Another reading event, called Night Owl, for younger students starts on a monthly basis around that same time.
For more information, visit www.libraryvisit.org.