‘A Universe of Stories’ in the books
The Gentry Public Library’s Summer Reading Program “A Universe of Stories” wrapped up on Tuesday, July 23. Ethan Koehn won the grand prize of a Celestron Travel Scope telescope.
Ethan and his cousins attended all eight SRP sessions. His mother, Amber, said he and his cousins agreed if any of them won, they would share the prize. Additional prize winners were Tyler Kessinger, April Milsap, Juliet Smartt, Maddison Unruh, Walker Rakes, and Walter and Charles Johnson.
Thirty participants, including children, teens, toddlers and adults, turned in reading logs listing almost 550 books read this summer. Every week more than 24 children attended the programs, though on many weeks attendance was higher. Library staff recreated each session for 12 children at the Gentry Boys and Girls Club.
Marshall Mitchell, singing cowboy, performed his Cowboy Space Adventures to a packed McKee Room. He also gave the children Honesty, Respect, Courage and Responsibility bracelets, coloring sheets and space hats.
Courtesy of our sponsors, attendees received giveaways, including space toys, bookmarks, treats and a book for each child and then ate star-sprinkled cake and cupcakes. Karen McGehee, library clerk, acquired spacethemed pins and stickers from an acquaintance at NASA which
each child received at checkout.
GPL is very grateful to the many volunteers and businesses who helped us make this year’s program a real blast. Special thanks to McKee Foods, Dollar General, Walmart, Smith Drug, Sonic, Little Debbie Company Store, NASA, Gentry Public Library Association, and Janie Parks at Gentry Chamber of Commerce. We’re looking forward to our 2020 program, “Imagine Your Story,” which will feature a fairy tale, mythology and fantasy theme.