Kids learn early the joy of reading
Steve Fogarty | The Chronicle-Telegram
Patrons young and old browsed through thousands of books in the spacious, brightly lit surroundings of Vermilion’s Ritter Public Library on a recent weekday morning.
But the real bookworms were in a room at the back of the library’s main floor, where parents sat in a broad semicircle as their children sat with them, milled around the room, or stood almost with their noses in books being read by Carrie Clipson, a woman with a warm smile and an engaging manner.
Among the smallfry who were most enthralled by Clipson’s story was 2-year-old Grayson Dovala and 3-year-old redhead Andrew Csanady, each of whom stood close as Clipson read from an animal picture book in a relaxed, inviting voice. Both boys pointed as she turned pages and introduced the group to the book’s large, colorful images of animals.
“We’ve been coming since Andrew was 1,” said his mother, Danielle Csanady, of
Sandra Dovala, a Vermilion resident, said her son, Grayson, already is developing a group of favorite books.
“He’s already got preferences … books he loves to read and reread. He’s saying the last word in sentences. He wants that repetition. It gives him a sense of mastering certain books.”
As a youth services associate, Clipson oversees the library’s Babies and Books, and Tiny Tots reading programs each Monday. Patterned after similar efforts at the Euclid Public Library, the program is designed to not only introduce and make very young children comfortable at the library but also to cultivate their observational and listening skills, increase their vocabulary and build a foundation for a lifelong love affair with books.
For Kristin Mulica, that love affair began before her 17-month-son Cameron ever held a book.
“I was reading to him when he was in my belly,” said the 27-year-old
Books that have textures and make sounds already have enticed Cameron to enjoy books.
“He loves looking at the pictures and listening to the sounds,” said Mulica. “He loves going to the library.”
Monday’s group also included grandparents and a dad.
“I’m sure all of these kids are read to at home, which is all part of the goal here,” Clipson said.
Storytimes are 15 to 20 minutes long, in line with the shorter attention spans of young children. Incorporating songs, nursery rhymes and puppets to bring stories to life, each session ends with everyone singing and waving to “The Bye-Bye Song.” Then kids and adults alike head for tables to do a craft, which on this day was coloring elephants and receiving finger puppets, which tied into the animal book Clipson had just read.
Designed for children up to a year old, The Babies and Books program begins at 10 a.m. and is followed by the Tiny Tots program at 11 a.m. for children ages 1 and 2. Each child must be accompanied by a parent or adult.
A preschool program for children up to age 3 is 1 p.m. Mondays. Toddler Tales, for kids ages 2 and 3, is 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Thursdays. A Twilight Story Time for all ages is 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
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Filed by Steve Fogarty | The Chronicle-Telegram March 18th, 2008 in Local and State. Popularity: 4% |
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