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By ESTHER SMITH
News staff writer
June 28, 2006
The Hood River County Library has a busy
summer planned to help parents combat their children’s “summer
learning loss” — the name professionals have given what happens when
students take a vacation from learning in the summer.
There are also programs planned for pre-readers and preschoolers,
which will give those children a jump start on reading skills and give
them a solid foundation on which to build their education later.
And this summer, in addition to the usual reading programs there are
art and music programs and fun family activities tying in to the
library’s “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales” theme.
Toddler story time blends reading with
“wiggle room.” Library Assistant Heather Clemons-Porter reads to
the 0-3-year-olds.
The toddlers take time out for body movement.
*****
Summer Reading Challenge
For pre-readers, ages 0-5, parents can sign up for “Read to Me,” and
win prizes for their child and themselves. By keeping track of the
number of hours spent reading to their child(ren), they can redeem
those hours for prizes and earn a free book at the end of the summer.
Young readers ages 5-17 can help prevent “summer brain drain” by
signing up for the “Reader Challenge” and challenging themselves to
read as many hours a day as they can, also earning prizes and a free
book.
For either challenge, sign up at the circulation desk at the library
and receive a reading log, then set your reading goal for the summer
and start keeping track of your reading time.
There are prizes given for each of five levels of time spent reading:
Level 1=2 hours; Level 2=4 hours; Level 3= 6 hours; Level 4=10 hours;
and Level 5=15 hours. The Bonus Level=20 hours or more.
Susan Parsons sings “The Itsy Bitsy
Spider”
with daughter, Lena.
*****
Other reading programs continuing into summer are the Toddler Story
Time, for ages birth to 3 years (accompanied by parent), which happens
Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11 a.m. in the Library Meeting
Room (downstairs near the rear exit of the building); and Story Book
Theater, for preschoolers ages 3-6, which is held in the Story Book
Theater in the Children’s Library from 11-11:30 a.m.
Toddler Story Time gives toddlers an opportunity to “wiggle, dance,
listen to stories, then wiggle some more,” according to Heather
Clemons-Porter, library assistant. Story Book Theater allows
preschoolers a chance to have fun, sing songs and enjoy stories, with
a creative craft to follow.
Another regular library program is held on Thursdays at 7 p.m.: Pajama
Storytime, a fun-filled story time for children ages 3-7 and their
families. “Put on those jammies and let Suzy read your bedtime
stories,” Clemens-Porter says.
*****
Special events offered on the Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales theme
began in mid-June with 3-day art workshops June 19-21 and 26-28.
The Tuesday Art Programs, which will be held July 11-Aug. 15, are
nearly filled, according to Jayne Guidinger, youth services librarian.
Local artists Sarah Starr (for ages 6-10) and Shelley Toon-Hight (ages
10-13) will teach art from 1-2 p.m. to those who registered for the
class.
*****
Wednesday afternoons bring “Creature Feature,” a program featuring
local critters ranging from walking sticks to cows. This week’s
Creature Feature will be fishy: Cheri Anderson from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service will share the book, “Salmon Stream” and help kids to
make fish prints. Parents are encouraged to bring a T-shirt or pillow
case for their child to make a fish print.
The program starts at 2 p.m. in the Story Book Theater. The event is
open to all ages and there is no registration required.
*****
On Thursdays from July 13-Aug. 3, “Wild Wordsmiths” will give children
ages 8-12 a chance to hone their creative writing skills with local
authors and other writing enthusiasts, from 3-4 p.m. Registration is
required for this program.
*****
Friday Family Programs continue this week with the “Nana Banana Show,”
at 2 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room.
“This high-energy music and magic show blends traditional folk songs
with Cinda Tilgner’s original music to delight the audience and have
them humming a tune for the rest of the day,” says Guidinger. This
event is a part of the summer reading program sponsored by Friends of
the Hood River County Library.
Upcoming Friday Family Programs scheduled include Hart’s Reptile World
July 7; Henry Lappen, puppeteer, July 14; Music with Eric Herman, July
21; Penny Walter’s Puppets, July 28; and an Ice Cream Party in the
Park with concert by Victor Johnson, Ben Bonham and Larry Wyatt, Aug.
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