Summer reading prompts youth to "Dream Big'

Children who have pets raise their hands Wednesday as children's librarian Jerilyn Hahn read aloud from and asked questions about a book about different jobs.
Children who have pets raise their hands Wednesday as children's librarian Jerilyn Hahn read aloud from and asked questions about a book about different jobs.

You can be anything you dream yourself to be.

That was the message of Dreams and Goals, Wednesday afternoon, the latest entry in the Callaway County Public Library's summer reading program.

After children's librarian Jerilyn Hahn read several books about dreaming, goal-setting and the multitude of career options available to them, Hahn gave the children crowded into the library's Friends Room the opportunity to try on some of those different "hats" by making paper versions of police, fire, chef, cowboy or space hats.

Hahn said it is setting up activities like the hat-making session Wednesday afternoon that is one of her favorite things about summer reading. She said this year's theme for children ages 5-12, Dream Big, Read! has been especially fun.

"It's really interesting each year to come up with ideas and activities. I'm enjoying this theme - I had a lot of fun with it today talking about dreams and goal-setting," Hahn said, noting she also is looking forward to next week's programs, Repurpose It from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday and Use Your Imagination from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday. "I've got some fun books about using your imagination, and for the older kids (ages 12 and older) we're going to take soda tabs and make them into bracelets."

She said another exciting program for children ages 3 and up, will be Wild Goose Chase Theater from 2-2:45 p.m. Friday.

"We have a performer who took a Shel Silverstein poem and made a shadow puppet play out of it," Hahn said. "He talks about going to the library and looking up poetry. He got me excited about summer reading too."

As much fun as she has planning out the programming for summer reading, Hahn said her favorite part is actually getting young people into the library and getting books in their hands.

"I really enjoy trying to get kids excited to pick up a book," Hahn said.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.