Summer reading is always exciting for us, because we get to see so many of our young patrons who are usually in school all day. This year’s summer reading has been particularly exciting not just because of our favorite young guests, but also because of two special guests from various nature-focused places near Hampton! In late June, we had visits from Heather Runyan with Logoly State Park and Tara Bayird with AGFC’s Delta Rivers Nature Center. Heather read a funny and educational book called I Don’t Like Snakes, taught the kids how to make snakes out of pipe cleaners and beads, and introduced us to a speckled king snake who is a permanent park resident and education animal. The kids were so pleased to get to pet the snake! Our second wildlife week visit included a very fun presentation about birds of prey in Arkansas, including eagles, hawks, turkey vultures, and owls. We learned about their diet, habits, evolutionary advantages that make them such fearsome predators, and finally, we talked about many of the similarities and differences between four Arkansas owl species. We were then treated to a visit from a gentle but grumpy screech owl, whose glares of dissatisfaction were very entertaining for all the humans in the room.
Next week, we will be hosting a professor from SAU on Tuesday evening for a bright, spectacular chemistry show, and the very next day we will have a onehour bubble show! A performer known as Big Poppa Bubble will be visiting for the very last day of Summer Reading, so come out and celebrate with us. If you’ve been reading this summer (or still want to sign up - you have time!), final reading logs will be due by 12pm on July 16 to be entered into our prize drawings. All readers who complete at least one reading log will receive a prize pack after the 16th as well! We hope you can all come out next week for our two shows to celebrate the end of another year of Summer Reading at Calhoun County Library!
Heather Runyan reads I Don’t Like Snakes
Snakes made by kids
Screech owl glares unhappily
