Anything can happen at the Gibsons and District Public Library Children's Summer Reading Club: from finding a live chicken in the history section to discovering an energy chamber filled with mystic runes.
Children explored history and uncovered the hidden past in a time traveller's scavenger hunt. They learned about pirates sailing the oceans deep and vast through scurvy song and dance. They went outward into space with a dazzling puppet show presented by Chloe and Jessica from the Puppet Tuesday Collective. They discovered a dream-like place with the Myth Makers and learned that dreams are truly a place where anything can happen.
Jean-Pierre Makosso lead an African dance drama, where children embodied a favourite animal and learned about the origins of the drum and the value of sharing ideas. To close this incredible six-week program, Dan Williams of Electronic Device Services demonstrated one of his robots showing the possibility and potential for amazing feats to occur in one's own home.
None of this would have been possible without the participation of several community businesses whose generous donations of crafting materials and supplies for building props made the summer a great success.
The children made Egyptian arm bands, Aztec beads, heraldic shields, dinosaur fossils, pirate flags, sandcastles, space sock puppets, poi spinners, wizard wands, myth booklets, dream catchers, African headbands, bracelets and shakers and their own amazing inventions constructed with junk. They found a treasure chest, magic runes, Miranda the Ocean Monster, lots of books (of course) and even that chicken in the history section that, incidentally, was donated anonymously. There could be no Summer Reading Club without participating children and their families. To those who supported the reading club by bringing children to the library this summer and encouraging reading, and to the children who found their way here, many thanks. It was an amazing summer with record high registration and attendance.
Thank you to all presenters, donors and participants for making this summer a time where anything can happen. By joining together, sharing ideas and resources and supporting the development of literacy in young people, a strong and successful future for our community is ensured.
