Community Corner
Palisadians Celebrate Read Across America Day
The Palisades Branch Public Library held a story time for toddlers event Wednesday on Read Across America Day, a national initiative to help make kids enthusiastic about reading.
About 15 happy youngsters joined in to celebrate the commemoration of Read Across America Day at the Palisades Branch Public Library Wednesday.
The event featured a special baby and toddler storytime. The monthly group is aimed at babies and toddlers up to 36 months of age. Coincidently, Wednesday was also the birthday of one of the most internationally beloved children’s authors, Theodor Seuss Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss.
The event was lead by Gail Kim, the Children’s Librarian. She was assisted by the Librarian Intern, Wendy Chen. Kim decided that because of the age group, their attention span would not be focused enough to take in an entire book of Dr. Seuss. But since everybody loves to eat she decided to “serve up good books,” about food that perked the kids’ attention. Their curiosity was peeked with books read by Kim. The books focused on food like, "Lunch," by Denise Fleming and "Orange Pear Apple Bear," by Emily Gravett.
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The kids were fascinated and couldn't take their eyes off of the animated librarian as she showed them the illustrations. There is nothing like an adult reading to a child. This illustrates Kim’s philosophy that reading to a child can make more of an impression on the child than sitting in front of a computer or TV.
Some of the parents and children in attendance included Jodi and Jake Lobis, Marjory and Clarrise Grusky and Kathy Turlik with her granddaughter Kylie.
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After the program, Patch had a chance to chat with Kim. She grew up with one of the first generations of Dr. Seuss's first fans.
"It's hard to imagine a world without Dr. Seuss," said Kim. "He opened up a whole new way of thinking, that made reading fun for children and adults. Both get to play. And playing is a form of learning.”
The Los Angeles Public Library's services and programs for young children stresses the importance of reading with young children, said Kim, starting at infancy.
It's a way to prepare children to enter school ready and eager to learn, Kim said.
Palisades Branch Public Library Baby & Toddler Storytime meets monthly on Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. The next storytime day is April 6.
