A ‘Cool’ Start To Summer Reading

By Nancy K. Crevier

The Teen and ’Tweens Summer Reading Program kicked off Monday afternoon, June 22, with “Cool Drinks and Cool Stories” in the meeting room of the C.H. Booth Library. More than three dozen young people in grades rising 5 and up crowded into the room for part one of a two-part afternoon — the cool drinks.

Four members of the Young Adult Council staffed four blenders, and soon only the buzz of voices and the buzz of the blenders could be heard as fresh berries, bananas, frozen yogurt, and juice were combined into customized smoothies. With chilled drinks in hand, the youngsters hurried to find a place to sit, eager for the main event to begin.

Young adult librarian Margaret Brown first introduced the summer reading program to the group, explaining the details. From July 6 to August 10, young readers are invited to read, fill out a form in the second floor young adult area, and place it into a jar for the weekly drawing. Each Monday, Ms Brown will select five to six winners of prizes donated by local merchants Bagel Delight, Borders Books and Music, Drug Center, Dunkin’ Donuts, Edmond Town Hall Theatre, Franco’s Pizza, the Ice Cream Shop, Mona Lisa, Newtown Pizza Palace, Tambascio’s Grill, and Xtreme Sports.

No signup is necessary to take part in the summer program, and each week the jar will be refilled with new entries.

The library is also taking part in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Summer Slam Reading Jam contest from June 24 to July 16. The first 25 young people to check out two books from the library between those dates will receive a numbered WWE poster. On July 17, a national drawing will select two lucky winners based on the poster numbers for a visit to Los Angeles, Calif., for a Summer Slam WWE event.

Ms Brown then introduced international storyteller from Massachusetts, Rona Leventhal. Beginning with a story from the Thailand/Myanmar region of Southeast Asia, she quickly involved the audience in an interactive tale with the lesson of how little things can turn into big issues when not addressed in a timely manner. The group swiftly caught on to the exaggerated motions and superior “kingly” tone encouraged by Ms Leventhal. “Now you have a story you can take with you and tell,” she said, giving the audience a hand as they responded enthusiastically to her with loud applause.

Her next story came from Scotland, and in a flash, Ms Leventhal had adopted the lilting brogue of a native Scotsman. Her ever-changing facial expressions and fluid use of her whole body as she told the tale of a bagpiper who “didn’t mean any harm, really, he didn’t,” had all eyes riveted upon her performance.

With each lesson she conveyed through her stories, including her final story from Russia, the room remained still and respectful, thoroughly enjoying the performance.

“Wasn’t she great?” commented Ms Brown after the performance, who had noted that the turnout for the kick-off program indicated a real interest in reading over the summer.

For more information on other summer youth programs at the library, visit chboothlibrary.org.