Activities and entertainment await kids at the Charles City Public Library this summer

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Don’t let the kids say they don’t have anything to do this summer.

There’s plenty for them to do at the Charles City Public Library.

“Just get them in this building, that’s the key,” said children’s librarian Dana Schwickerath.

“Libraries Rock” is the theme of the summer reading program this year, and Schwickerath has a list of events prepared for kids of all ages. The learning and entertainment opportunities will include Storytime Fridays, Wonderful Wednesdays and Crafty Days on Tuesdays.

There will also be a visit from the Blank Park Zoo from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12, which will feature live animals.

“I tell the kids, not like elephants and lions,” said Schwickerath. “It’s little creatures.” In the past, the zoo has brought an anaconda snake, a skunk and a baby alligator.

Schwickerath, who is now into her 12th summer reading program at Charles City, said usually around 100 kids are involved in the various programs.

“I was lucky to fall into this. It was already established when I got here, and I’ve changed very little,” she said.

This summer’s fun started on Wonderful Wednesday this week, when children were entertained with a family music show with performer Miss Carol, called Macaroni Soup.

“She’s just fantastic with little kids,” said Schwickerath.

The kids in the audience participated with Miss Carol and her accompanying guitar player, singing and dancing with the music, following along with the musical stories.

Wonderful Wednesdays, always at 1 p.m., are geared toward children in kindergarten through third grade. Next Wednesday, the library will get a visit from the Science Center of Des Moines Global Soundscape.

“They’ve come before and they’ve done experiments, such as wind-tunnel experiments, rockets, those kinds of things,” said Schwickerath.

A “Pete the Cat Party” is slated for Wednesday, June 20. The day will include a scavenger hunt in the library, games and an obstacle course. On Wednesday, June 27, kids will enjoy magician Johnathan May, from Ames.

“He’s gotten good reviews,” said Schwickerath. “He’s funny and good with the kids.”

Every Friday the library will have morning storytime from 10:15 to 11 a.m. On the first Friday of each month, storytime will have a special theme.

This week — June 8 — the theme is dance. July 6 is entitled “Birthday Storytime.” The date is actually Schwickerath’s birthday, so she will organize a special party, that might include cupcakes. On Aug. 3, the theme is yoga. Schwickerath said she will clear the chairs out of the room and show a video for the kids to follow along with.

There will also be three different craft days for older kids, above fourth grade. Rock painting will be on June 12, string art will be on June 26 and tie-dying will be on July 10. The “crafty days” are filling up quickly, and space is limited.

In exchange for all these special days, the children have to read. The kids will keep a log of how many books, magazines, comics, graphic novels and other types of reading they have done, and if they reach certain goals, they can collect tokens. The tokens can be used as currency to buy books at the library’s book sale, which will be July 12 through July 20.