The Parkes Library was ‘crawling’ with curious creatures on Tuesday for the launch of the Summer Reading Club.
Armed with magnifying glasses and torches more than 50 kids and adults got up close and personal with the little creatures of Bushmans Dam under the guidance of Parkes Shire Council’s Environment and Sustainability Coordinator Michael Chambers.
Michael caught the creatures earlier in the day and had them swimming in containers in the library foyer for the kids to meet them. “I can see a leech,” and “There is a yabby” were some excited calls as they zoomed in on the tiny creatures. The challenge to the Summer Reading Club participants this year is to find 1,000 creatures in the books they read during summer. There is also a mystery creature hiding under a big rock in the library, and kids are encouraged to make a drawing of it.
Summer Reading Club is for all young readers birth and up. The Curious Creatures theme aims to encourage young
readers to discover new worlds as they explore and connect with a curiosity of creatures through their reading and a range of activities available at Parkes Shire libraries.
Children’s Services Officers Debbie and Sandie are really excited about this year’s Summer Reading Club. They have put in lots of preparation and are ready to start recording the creatures as participants discover them in stories. They will also be putting up the drawings of the mystery creature under the rock in the library.
If you did not attend the launch call into your Library at Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore and sign up today!