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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Amelia Dale, a librarian assistant, sung songs with children and read books to them during the first Read and Make event at the Michael Kusalaba library.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Librarian assistant Amelia Dale sat with 3-5 year-olds at the Michael Kusalaba library during the Read and Make event on Nov. 1.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Children and parents who attended the Read and Make event at the Michael Kusalaba library used candy wrappers to decorate paper leaves Nov. 1.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Children used candy wrappers to make a mosaic of paper leaves during the candy themed Read and Make event hosted on Nov. 1.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Children gathered for the Read and Make event at the Michael Kusalaba library where they sat with librarian assistant Amelia Dale to read books and sing songs before participating in a craft.
By JESSICA HARKER
The Michael Kusalaba library hosted a Read and Make event on Nov. 1 The event was hosted by librarian assistant Amelia Dale.
Dale said that the event is a re-branding of the story time event the library has offered since its opening early this year.
“We want to focus more on a specific age group because those were the kids that were coming,” Dale said.
She explained that 3-5 year-olds were the main group in attendance, and re-branding the event allowed her to focus on important literary skills for the younger age group, and pick themes for each event.
“I was impressed it was really this age that was coming so I made it so that it was more geared towards them,” Dale said. “I created the theme to encourage more people to come.”
The first week’s theme of the event was candy, in celebration of Halloween. Dale read three books to children gathered at the event, including “Little Pea,” “Candy 1 to 20” and “Curious George Goes to the Chocolate Factory.”
The group also sang a number of candy related songs, with the focus on rhyming and repetition which Dale says is good for children at this age group.
“This is the time that their minds are really developing,” Dale said. “Before they’re 5 is essentially when they are just sponges and they are really listening.”
The group also worked on a craft with all supplies provided by the library. Children and their guardians ripped up candy wrappers, gluing them on leaves to create a candy and fall themed mosaic. The Read and Make event will continue every Thursday at the library at 10:30 a.m.
For more information about upcoming library programs, go to www.libraryvisit.org.