Cooling Off From Summer Heat At Library Event

By GABRIELLE SHIOZAWA

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley Library’s Summer Reading Program has kept local families occupied this summer with plays, puppet shows, music, and, of course, lots of books. But as temperatures soared and humidity increased last week, after a bout of summer storms, kids were in need of a way to cool off outside.
So, that’s exactly what the library provided on Friday when it hosted a water day, complete with ice cream, sprinklers, and squirt guns!

To get everyone excited and engaged, librarian Naomi Harris started off the program by reading aloud the book: Dive In! The interactive book, which tells the story of a deep sea diver, had children engrossed as they followed along and acted out the story. Harris’ silly voices and energetic storytelling brought the tale to life.

Next, everyone headed outside. Some started with bowls of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles, while others headed off to play. Kids shrieked with laughter as they chased each other with squirt guns. They ran through sprinklers, pursued butterflies, and played with water tables full of plastic balls and rubber ducks. One mechanism with moving parts tilted and spun when water was poured over the top, and children ran back and forth to fill plastic pitchers with water and empty them over the toy.

This Friday, children’s musician Jim Gill will perform at the library at 11:15 am. Gill’s much-anticipated show will bring the Summer Reading Program to a close.