Inspired by the music in the air and sheer joy, little girls in pretty dresses danced barefoot in the park.
After a long hiatus, the sun sparkled valiantly for a picnic Thursday at Smokey Bear Park, as if giving a “thumbs up” to childrens reading.
The sun and dozens of kids with family members turned out to celebrate the close of the Falls Public Library’s summer reading program for kids. The program, which promotes and encourages book reading, opened earlier this summer with a magic and juggling show at the library.
Breezes tousled the hair of babes who sat in strollers or played on blankets beside their mothers. Other kids sat in the park’s pavilion while they ate hot dogs and sloppy Joes, grilled and served by library staff member Kathy Brokaw and her husband, Ken Brokaw. For dessert, ice cream in little cups was served.
After lunch, kids sang along with singer, songwriter, storyteller and children’s author, Willy Welch, who performed in front of the Pete Peterson Band Shell. Welch brought giggles and guffaws as he sang about a runaway stroller holding a baby sister and other assorted silly circumstances.
Diane Adams, director of the Falls Public Library, said 400-450 summer reading bags were distributed at the start of the reading program. About 220 kids put in at least five accumulated hours of reading and 175 T-shirts were awarded for 10 hours of reading.
Many of the children who attended the picnic are regular visitors to the children’s library, as well as to storytelling events offered to local families.
