Moapa Valley Librarian April Heath, center in yellow shirt, gives instruction to kids and parents participating in this year’s summer reading program. Photo by Mike Donahue.

By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley Library continued its smorgasbord of summer activities last weekend with a craft buffet featuring origami and other entertaining projects.

More than 120 kids and parents turned out for the two-day feast of fun that was kicked off each day with a story read by librarian April Heath. The story “Fold Me a Poem,” written by Kristine O’Connell George and illustrated by Lauren Stringer, is about a small boy who makes different small paper animals using origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding.

“What I really like about this book is that each page is a haiku,” Heath explained to her enthusiastic audience. Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that combines form, content and language into three short lines. The first line contains five syllables, the second seven and the third five.

Shellie Tingey with 20-month-old daughter Charlotte participate in the Moapa Valley Library’s Summer Reading Program activity last Friday. Photo by Mike Donahue.

Immediately after the story, kids learned how to fold a duck using a small square of colored paper. They were led by library employee Korey Johnson who learned his origami skill from, “where else,” a library book, he said.

“We decided to start the day with origami because it not only fits the library’s reading program of ‘One World, Many Stories,’ but it’s a little more challenging (than the activities featured in previous weeks),” Heath said.

After folding origami ducks, kids were encourage to enjoy doing other crafts including making a “Sponge Bob, Squarepants” magnet, a yarn dreamcatcher or a paper camera among others.

“We wanted to give them an opportunity to experience different crafts,” Heath said.

The ultimate goal of the summer reading program is go get kids to read during the summer. Studies show those who do can maintain or surpass the reading level they had when school ended. The theme of this year’s program, “One World, Many Stories,” is based on stories from different continents and countries.

Alexis Allum of Logandale, whose 9-year-old daughter Savannah has been participating in the summer reading program, said the library’s activities have been wonderful this year.

“We have been coming to most of the weekend events,” Allum said. “The program gives us something to look forward to each week and get out of the heat of the summer to do it.”

Maggie McMurray, who brought sons Ryan, 10, and Iain, 6, as well as 6-year-old neighbors Raine Gray and Quinn Clarke to the library last Friday said the summer reading program was terrific.

“The library does such a good job,” McMurray said. “They have such great ideas for activities and they’re so patient with the kids.”

A magic show is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Saturday, the 10:30 a.m. program will feature an “Asian Vacation” that will let kids travel to the Orient as they create batik-like masterpieces.