BELLOWS FALLS — The Youth Department of the Rockingham Free Public Library (RFPL) recently celebrated the first national “Take Your Child to the Library Day,” with all-day Lego construction, games, and introductions to available programs for children and their parents.
According to RFPL Youth Department leader Sam Maskell, the day was a big success.
“About 50 kids and parents showed up this morning,” she said. “One father brought all his kids. and they hung out all day playing with Legos and reading books together. We had a lot of people who had never been in before who got to see what we offer.”
The inspiration for the day to celebrate libraries and children began as a grassroots idea in Connecticut in response to “Take Your Child to the Bookstore Day.”
The children, and their parents and grandparents, in the Bellows Falls area had no problems getting into the spirit of the event.
Eight-year-old Sophia James came with her grandmother, Ann DiBernardo.
“I don't have television at my house, so when she comes over, we have to find other things to do,” DiBernardo said. “I knew about this, and thought it would be a good thing for us to do together.”
Sophia said she does not read much herself, but likes her grandmother to read to her.
What is her favorite book? “Llama, Llama!” she said after a moment's thought.
The Llama, Llama series of books by Ann Dewdney - with the tagline “When Llama Llama faces drama, he can always turn to Mama” - is accompanied by a website where children can participate in games and teachers can access study units around the stories.
“We have a llama, you see,” DiBernardo said, grinning. “We enjoy reading together.”
Another group of 11- and 12-year-olds clustered at the round computer table while, nearby, parent Serena Hickey busied herself looking through children's books.
Best friends Trey Hickey and Michael Mueller made a date to meet up at the library that day specifically because they had heard about the event.
They proudly showed off their Bionicles, a line of Legos supported by a science fiction/fantasy storyline.
“We used our imaginations...” Trey began.
“...to create ... flippin' epic-ness,” Michael finished.
Indeed, the whole top of one section of bookshelves displayed about 15 different Bionicles and Lego creatures.
“These kids had a lot of fun creating these,” Maskell said, holding up one with fiery wings lifting outward behind the body of Legos.
Michael said that he likes to read zombie-related books; Trey says that he is into comic books and graphic novels.
Maskell chimed in and explained that graphic novels are really popular with a lot of kids who come to the library.
Serena Hickey said that she and her son and their friends “use the [Youth Department] as our living room, and the kids treat it like that,” she said, laughing. “Sometimes Sam has to use her 'stern' voice to get kids to quiet down or stop running.”
Maskell agreed, noting that kids have such a good time there that they become naturally exuberant and excited.
“It doesn't happen often, and they settle down eventually,” she said. “I just talk to them and try to be friendly.”
Maskell said the Youth Department is moving upstairs shortly to make way for the renovations that will “give me back my craft room” by using a much larger portion of the basement where the department is located.
Right now, “without a craft room, I can't do as many projects with the kids,” she said.
She gestures at the one table in the room used for such activities, currently covered with Legos.
“I can't wait.”