Storytellers play a vital role at the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) throughout the year, spreading the joy of reading to thousands of kids at schools, churches and in many of the 19 libraries across the city. They are very active at many of BPL’s 500-plus Summer Reading programs this year.
Last week at Wylam Branch Library during a program called “Take me out to the Game,” Five Points West Regional Library storytellers Candice Hardy and Fontaine Alison entertained kids from a Faith Chapel Christian Center summer camp as they told the story of an alligator who wanted to join fellow animals in a game of baseball. With Alison holding “an alligator,” and campers playing the role of animals such as a skunk and parrot, Hardy recited a tale of a baseball game, soliciting laughs.
At Southside Branch Library this month, Avondale storyteller Cassandra Scott (Ms. Cas) generated laughter from toddlers attending a program called “On Your Mark, Get Set…Whee,” while Eve Parker (Mrs. Eve) shared her version of wacky tales that have made her popular in a presentation called “On Your Mark, Get Set… Wacky!”
BPL Northern region storyteller Myra Gentry entertained kids at Pratt City Branch Library on Tuesday, June 28 at a program called “Ready, Set, Read and Laugh.” Meanwhile, Marie Nash, the storyteller for North Avondale Library, provides story time for the North Avondale and Kingston communities, reading to kids at area schools, churches, and daycares, said branch manager Saundra Ross.
Hardy, a full-time storyteller and library assistant at Five Points West Regional Library since 2011, said she gets a joy out of sharing stories with kids in Birmingham. Besides participating in various Summer Reading programs, Hardy will be busy over the next few weeks entertaining kids at the following activities: Family Movie Night at Five Points West on July 12 and July 26; a Family Night program on July 19; In the Zone Five Points West on July 12, In the Zone Wylam on July 5, In the Zone Smithfield on July 6, and In the Zone West End on July 7.
All programs provided (free of charge) are 30 to 45 minutes outside the movie night, and include interactive stories and songs for all ages, crafts.
“These interactive story times were designed to create overall crowd participation and to encourage leisure readers,” Hardy said. “We love what we do here at Five Points West.”
For a full listing (by library) of remaining story time programs for kids taking place for the remainder of BPL Summer Reading see the schedule online at www.bplonline.org .
