Thanks to a grant through Prairie Public and some local ladies interested in literacy, children will have a chance to meet Curious George, have a story read to them and be able to take a free book home with them.
On Thursday, Feb. 28, the Detroit Lakes Library is hosting a Share a Story Family Literacy Event. The storytime event is due to a grant through PBS that Carmen Nodsle and Dotz Johnson applied for and received.
"Since I love literacy, I thought this was perfect," Nodsle said when she found the application for the grant.
So, she contacted Johnson at the library. Not only did Nodsle already know Johnson, but she also knew of the already successful twice-weekly storytime event each week at the library.
"There is already a great turnout for story hour so we wanted to enhance that," she said.
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During the Feb. 28 event, from 10:15 a.m. to noon, early childhood kids are invited to come hear some stories, receive a book and meet a famous friend.
"Curious George will be the guest," Johnson said.
The purpose of the program is to encourage early age literacy and the importance of reading with a child. There will be displays and handouts for parents and adults as well.
Johnson said there will also be a demonstration on how to utilize the Lake Agassiz Regional Library system online as well as TumbleBooks (animated, talking picture books online), which are quite popular, she said.
"It's an introduction to free resources at the library," she added.
There will also be early literacy professionals on hand to answer questions and host activities for the children.
"Literacy does start at birth," Nodsle said.
This event will show why it's important for parents and adults to explain things to a child, read to them, use a larger vocabulary and more.
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Regular storytimes at the library -- Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. -- are filled with young children. Early Childhood and Family Education partners with the library to get preschool and younger children to the library for stories.
While those children will participate in the Share a Story event, Johnson and Nodsle are hoping more families with young children, daycares, preschools, grandparents, anyone with younger children will come as well. Groups are welcome. The event is free.
Every child that comes will receive a free book and a gift bag filled with other goodies when they leave as well.
And what child wouldn't want to meet Curious George?
Follow Pippi Mayfield on Twitter at @PippiMayfield.
