Eeny meeny miney moe…nope! That won’t work. We’re not counting tiger toes. We might count tiger tails, or monkey tails, or lion tails, or even duck tails because we are getting ready for a reading safari at the St. Bernard Parish Library. June 1st marks the start of the 2021 annual summer reading program and the theme this year is Tails and Tales.
The St. Bernard Parish Library has something for readers of all ages. Beginning June 1st, participants can stop by the library’s main branch, located at 2600 Palmisano Blvd., in Chalmette, to pick up their ‘Grab and Go’ registration bags. Bags will include a calendar of events, activity sheets, summer reading treats, and sponsor/supporter info. The six weeks of library fun will come to a close on Friday, July 9th.
While most programs will remain virtual (visit mysbpl.org/srp2021 for links to everything), the library will have two weekly in-person story sessions. ‘In & Out’ Stories will take place on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the library’s main branch. Sessions are scheduled to be held indoors. As this will be a group setting in an enclosed space, social distancing may be difficult. Participants are encouraged to wear masks per state and CDC guidelines. All other programmings will take place virtually. Grab & Go craft bags that go along with In & Out storytime themes will be available following each week’s program and can be picked up throughout the week while supplies last.
Weekly virtual programming will include a variety of activities starting with Page Turner Adventures. Page Turner and Kenny will be taking readers of all ages on an animal safari. Participants will make everything from coffee filter fish to jungle safari flashlights (Page Turner craft supply lists will be posted on the library’s special SRP website). Viewers will be treated to original shows, author/illustrator interviews, virtual field trips and more. Additional virtual activities will include the library’s Telling Tales story sessions, sponsor surprise videos, and special guest performances by award-winning artists. The library’s virtual shows would not have been possible without the generosity of Arlette and Wayne Nunez of St. Bernard and a matching funds gift by Shell Oil. Mr. and Mrs. Nunez have been dedicated supporters of the library’s children’s programming for the past several years. Their contributions have made it possible to bring the wide variety of shows to our families at a time when it is most needed.
All of the library’s sponsors for the 2021 Tails and Tales summer reading program are Arlette and Wayne Nunez, Breksa Academy, Coffee House, Facials by Skin Diva, Infinity Science Center, Japan Society of New Orleans, Katt Forge, McDonald’s of St. Bernard, New Orleans Opera, Raising Cane’s, and the St. Bernard Parish Fire Department. McDonald’s of St. Bernard, being our longest-standing sponsor has come through again for all of our readers with coupons for a variety of menu items. Pre-readers through 5th graders will be racing through their books to earn free kids combo from everyone’s favorite chicken fingers restaurant, our local Raising Cane’s, and the first fifty 6th-12th graders and fifty adults who pick up their registrations bags will be treated to a free beverage of their choice from the ever-popular Coffee House in Arabi. Recognizing that Covid has kept some of our sponsors from the normal operation we wanted to make sure they were included in our summer plans as well, so we asked them if they would become recording artists by sharing videos with our readers. We are proud to say that these videos will be featured as part of our Mash-up Thursday’s virtual schedule. Our Thursday video stars include Laura Breksa of Breksa Academy; Kelly Simpson of Facials by Skin Diva; Donna Torres, Education Manager of the Infinity Science Center; Samantha Perez, Japan Society of New Orleans board member; Jared Kattengell of Katt Forge; and St. Bernard Fire Department’s Chief Tommy Stone. One of our sponsors, New Orleans Opera Education will be part of our Friday lineup. They generously donated their newest youth opera program to our library as well as to libraries throughout the state. The St. Bernard Parish Library is extremely grateful to each of its sponsors and encourages its library families to help them recover from the effects of the past year by returning their support.
Patrons can stay up-to-date by visiting the library’s summer reading website at mysbpl.org/srp2021 or by liking the library’s Facebook page. Information is also available by visiting the library or calling us at 504-279-0448.
