Melissa Gasia
Assistant Editor
Families experienced a fun-filled day of crafts, learning, games, story-telling and musical performances at the fourth annual Children’s Book Festival Saturday at the Claremont Public Library.
The Friends of the Claremont Library sponsored the event, which had a theme of 101 Dalmatians.
“Our event is titled 101 Dalmatians because it’s the 101st birthday of our library in the city of Claremont,” event coordinator Consuelo Rodriguez said.
“We get together in January and decide what the event is going to be like and who is going to be our supporters and our sponsors.”
Each family received a book bag and library materials before entering.
Inside the library, there were different table booths with hands-on fun activitie – the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology exhibit; Lakeshore learning materials; painting; bean bag toss; a crayon melting activity; astronomy and telescope exploration; rubber band loom bracelets and writing area.
All activities were free and children were able to bring home their handmade crafts.
“We really want families and children to come and we want it to be a fun afternoon,” Rodriguez said.
Several students from Azusa Pacific University volunteered to help children out at each activity booth.
“I think it is phenomenal, and they should have it every month because it definitely attracted so many people,” volunteer Nikki Hernandez said.
“All these kids are now excited about books.”
At the end of each completed activity, every child received a stamp.
Once children collected five stamps, they were given a free book of their choosing at the book distribution area to bring home.
“All of these books are related to some books and stories about dogs in relation to our 101 Dalmatians theme,” said Lanore Pearlman, president of Friends of Claremont Library.
All of the books were donated to the Claremont Library by the public.
“We want to support the library in whatever they want to do,” Pearlman said.
“Literacy for children and adults is high on our list of important goals.”
Each child received a raffle ticket for an hourly drawing.
Every hour, two children won a Dalmatian stuffed dog and a Dalmatian book and one child won a Dalmatian figurine play set.
“The way we get our money is we sell books from 25 cents to 50 cents to a dollar that come in from the community,” Rodriguez said.
“We get loads of donation all the time then we save this money and we purchase items for the library.”
At the entertainment area, Mr. Twister, the balloon man, got a huge crowd.
The children were excited and impressed as he shaped balloons into different objects such as monkeys, swords and crowns.
He made every child a shaped balloon for them to bring home.
Afterward, storyteller Jory Rickman, dressed as Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, read some classic Dr. Seuss stories in different voices to the children.
Later, children had a photo opportunity with Rickman.
Students from the Top Billing Entertainment Performance Academy closed the event with a musical performance with songs like “Frozen’s” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” and “Hercules’” “Go the Distance”.
“I love this event because I like to see the joy on family’s faces,” Rodriguez said.
“I love to see the children involved and I love to hear the sounds of children.”
Melissa Gasia can be reached at melissa.gasia@laverne.edu.
