Bartlett Library partners with Rotarians for Family Reading Night

On Thursday, Nov. 16, 96 youth and adult patrons gathered to celebrate Family Reading Night at the Bartlett Public Library District.

This year the Bartlett Rotarians partnered with the Bartlett Library to celebrate this night with stories and crafts.

Throughout the state of Illinois, Family Reading Night takes place in November to encourage families to spend true quality time while reading together. The statewide event is sponsored by the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and Illinois Center for the Book.

This year, the Bartlett Library's theme was based on the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff.

Youth & Teen Services Librarians Phyllis Sadowski and Mary Beth Fuller started the night out by putting their own spin on the story "If You Give a Pig a Pancake." Sadowski had a pig puppet stick its head out to interrupt Fuller when she tried to read the book. The pig kept needing items such as syrup, bubbles, a suitcase and more. Every time the pig made a surprise appearance, there were loud laughs from the children watching.

Sadowski and Fuller also had an activity for the children to follow along with their hand motions and voices. They got to put up their hands on their heads like moose antlers and talk in funny voices because of the book "If You Give a Moose a Muffin."

When Sadowski and Fuller finished their part of the program, the children were split up into four groups to be read to by Bartlett Rotarians. After that, each family was given a free book to take home, "The Best Place to Read" by Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom with illustrations by Michael Garland.

After the reading was finished, everyone was free to munch on a cookie and color the mouse from the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." There were already cut slits on the page so they could slide a piece of paper through it to go along with the book.

If you missed this program, an upcoming youth program at the Bartlett Library is the "Wendy & DB" concert on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. In their newest album "HomeEarth," Wendy & DB, a dynamic duo/band from Chicago, address the important messages for children and all people that we need to work together, be happy, feel our feelings, and take care of our wonderful world and ALL the folks that live in it. Sponsored by the Friends of the Bartlett Library.

For more information and a complete listing of scheduled programs, call (630) 837-2855 or visit www.bartlettlibrary.org.