Starkville Public Library kicks off Read Across America week with MSU athletics
On Thursday, March 2, children and parents gathered at the Starkville Public Library for Dr. Seuss Storytime to kickoff Read Across America Week. See more on page 2. (Photo by Cal Brown, SDN)
Thursday, March 2 was the perfect day for Loraine Walker or Miss Rainey, the Children's Librarian at Starkville Public Library, to kick off Read Across America Week with a Dr. Seuss Storytime at the Library.
Established in 1998 by the National Education Association to help kids get excited about reading, Read Across America Week occurs every year on the week of Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2, which was the day the Dr. Seuss Storytime was held at the Library this past week.
For Miss Rainey's Dr. Seuss Storytime, she had the Cat in the Hat himself come out and visit the children. In addition to herself reading some of Dr. Seuss' books, Miss Rainey also had Mississippi State softball players Chloe Malau'ulu and Jackie Mckenna come and read to the children as well. Members of the MSU football team even prepared videos of reading for the children to view as well.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the storytellings and an energetic break between the books of singing “If You're Happy and You Know It.”
“We've been doing special storytimes all week long. For the next entire month, we're having special storytimes and events. We've added all kinds of special programs; programs, anything and everything to get kids into the library and get them excited about reading,” Walker said.
Walker said she has heard a lot of good feedback from parents regarding the children's activities at the Library.
“We've done a big push on our early literacy projects, getting kids started on the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
program. We have bags available at the front desk where parents can get started here with their kids, we've got prizes and incentives for the amount of books they read, and we've got brochures to help them get through it,” said Walker. “We're also partnering with the Discovery Center and we're a signup place for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, so if your child is five and under or even if you're expecting, you can go ahead and sign up, and your child will get a new book from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library every month until they're five. They have a great selection; so we're really excited to have these early literacy initiatives and we're really pushing them this month.”
Walker added that she is thankful for MSU athletics spending time reading to the children at the Library.
In other news, Walker was glad to share that the Starkville Public Library and Starkvillebased company Glo have partnered together for a “Sensory Storytime” that will be taking place in the future.
“It's directed towards children on the spectrum, but any child can come,” said Walker. “We'll do it with dim lights and quieter sounds. All children can attend but it's geared towards children on the spectrum.”
For more information on events going on at the Starkville Public Library, you can stop by their location on 326 University Drive or call them at (662) 323-2766.