It was all about silliness.
And little-kid giggles and guffaws filled the room Tuesday as characters “Alfredo Tortellini” and “Robirda Tweet,” (a bird watcher) acted ridiculously and performed wacky, yet impressive, juggling stunts.
A gathering of approximately 200 people — kids with friends, moms, dads and grandparents — packed a downstairs room at the Falls Public Library, and was hilariously entertained by “Cheney and Mills.” All were there to kick off the Summer Reading Program for children.
Husband and wife team Nina Cheney and Jacob Mills, from Wisconsin, have entertained audiences across America, including on the “Today” show. Kid-friendly because they weren’t “over-costumed,” the high-energy act was sponsored by the local library and the Arrowhead Library System as part of the Kids’ Stuff Program.
Before the couple got into some amazing juggling and plate spinning, Mills began blowing up (with exaggerated antics) balloons in a ruse about making balloon animals. Handing just a single, simple, fat balloon to one surprised youngster, he declared, “Here, it’s a dog.”
Then, the goofy-voiced buffoon added, “Hey, I just started.”
Cheney had half the kids brushing their palms back and forth to imitate the sounds of birds’ wings and the other half of the kids tweeting away.
Tips for families to encourage summer reading
The experts agree that children who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who do not often experience learning losses. RIF (Reading is Fundamental) encourages parents and kids across the nation to use their public libraries this summer.
Combine activities with books.
Encourage kids to read a book about an activity. When going to a baseball game, suggest reading a book about his or her favorite player beforehand. In the car or over a hot dog, talk about the book and the game.
Visit the library.
Summer is a great time for a child to get a library card.
Lead by example.
Read the newspaper at breakfast, pick up a magazine at the doctor's office, and stuff a paperback in beach bags. Kids will understand that literature can be a fun and important part of their summer days.
Talk it up.
Talking with kids about what parents have read lets them know that reading is an important part of their lives. Talk about why a book was liked, what was learned from it, or how it helped.
Help kids find time to read.
Summer camp, music lessons, baseball games, and videos are all fun things kids like to do during the summer. However, by the end of the day, children may be too tired to pick up a book. When planning summer activities, remember to leave some time for reading.
Relax the rules for summer.
Summer is a time when children can read what, when, and how they please. Don’t set rigid requirements. Instead, make sure they pick up books for fun and help find ways for them to choose to read on their own. And make bedtime a little bit later when a kid is engrossed in a book.
Have plenty of reading material around.
Storybooks aren’t the only thing that kids can read for fun. Be sure to have newspapers, magazines, and informational material on hand.
Use books to break the boredom.
Books that teach kids how to make or do something are a great way to get kids reading and keep them occupied. Don’t forget to take your kids' favorite reading series along on long road trips.
Read aloud with kids.
Be a storyteller. The summer months leave time for enthusiastic read-alouds with children no matter what their age. Don’t forget to improvise different voices or wear a silly hat to make the story that much more interesting. It can instill lasting memories and a love of reading
