—
Thanks to the hard work of some volunteers, Spencer Park was
transformed Sunday afternoon into a place you might read about in a
children’s book.
The roughly 300 youngsters who turned out for the event got the
chance to design their own crowns at one area or to make a magic
wand in another. One popular spot was “Glass Slippers and
Seeds,” where every child had a chance to choose a shoe and, with
a little help from volunteers, to fill it with dirt and plant a flower. And
then there was “Noodle Jousting,” where participants used pool
noodles to knock off the crowns of other participants.
The event also featured a marionette performance of “Sleeping
Beauty,” and the Bloomington Storyteller’s Guild offered their
versions of fairytales while local literacy volunteers read books to the
children, and singer-songwriter Jarrett Binney gave those attending
the chance to play along with him on the drums.
All in all, the festival was an opportunity to illustrate for children the
gift that books can bring them.
A book can transport a child to a magical kingdom or to a jungle, to
the bottom of the sea, to the top of a mountain or maybe even to
another planet. It can help a child to see the world through the eyes
of a princess or a pauper or maybe even a frog.
The love of reading is a gift every young child should have, and
Reading Railroad is working hard to provide it.
Congratulations to Reading Railroad and its supporters and
volunteers on a successful event. The message they are delivering
is a crucial one for the future of our community.
Today’s kindergartners will be part of the work force in as little as 10
years, and encouraging a love of books is the most important thing
this community can do to make sure these youngsters obtain the
level of education they need to succeed in a 21st century economy.
