Think Storytime in the Park is all about reading children’s books outside in the local parks? Think again. The venerable program includes so much more: Think music, dancing, imaginative play, and yes, reading books.
Katie Sommerville, seated, enjoys the music with her grandson, Quenton.
Storytime returned this month as a collaboration between the Arlington Heights Memorial Library and the Arlington Heights Park District. Sites include Pioneer, Camelot and Sunset Ridge parks. They have offered the outdoor play date for nearly 20 years, and it never gets old.
The most recent Storytime took place Tuesday morning at Pioneer Park. Despite the sweltering heat, it drew nearly 90 people, including parents and their little ones as well as caregivers, siblings and grandparents. They spread out their blankets, unpacked some snacks and waited for the fun to begin.
“I like to include a theme,” says Kim McGuire, Youth Outreach Specialist with the library who ran the show, “and today’s theme is friendship — having friends, making friends and just what being a friend means.”
But first, in order to get the creative juices flowing, McGuire opened by playing a song, “I’m So Glad,” by Jazzy Ash. One of the first to react was 3-year old Saoirse Mahoney of Arlington Heights, who jumped up and started dancing. Children all around her soon followed her lead.
Saoirse Mahoney in pink is one of the first to stand up and dance.
“We just started coming,” her mother, Caitlin, said. “She loves the stories and the imaginative play. We love it. She’s learned so much from the library’s programs.”
That comes as music to the ears of Trixie Dantis, Youth Services Manager for the library.
“Storytime offers exposure to books, rhymes, songs and games that support a child’s pre-reading skills,” Dantis says. “It also helps foster positive relationships between children and books, reading and the library. Since the library lacks outdoor space, partnering with the Arlington Heights Park District was a natural choice to incorporate outdoor elements for storytime, nearly 20 years ago.”
Angelika Fierros of Arlington Heights said her 2-year old daughter Penelope loves the stories, but together they enjoy the fact that the activity is outdoors.
Kim McGuire reads to the crowd.
“I like being outside,” Fierros said. “In the summer, we try to get out as much as possible.”
Another patron on hand was Katie Sommerville of Arlington Heights, who brought her grandchildren, Brooke and Quenton.
“They love the dancing, the songs, the hand motions and the books,” Sommerville said. “And we love the timing. It’s right before lunch, so it’s perfect. We just love everything about it.”
No registration is needed for Storytime, just drop in and enjoy. Here are future dates and parks.
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