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‘Unearth a Story’ inspires literacy
Youngsters in Colorado County look forward to a few things during the summer: Swimming on a hot day, attending Vacation Bible School and participating in reading programs at local libraries.
Statewide and closer to home, libraries are sustaining and improving reading and writing skills through this year’s summer reading theme, “Unearth a Story,” officials said.
Columbus
Young children shook out their wiggles, meditated and engaged in Nesbitt Memorial Library’s first summer story time May 26 in Columbus, hosted by Jessica Mejia as “Sirena the Mermaid”.
Meanwhile, Nesbitt Executive Director Lynnette Weido said the dinosaur-inspired “Unearth a Story” theme will guide young readers to ask more questions,
“Your difference makes you magical.”
— Jessica Mejia, aka “Sirena the Mermaid” discover hidden meanings and make connections with the real world.
“Keeping them in the library, they feel like they’re working towards a goal in the summer program,” Weido said. “We’re making something fun for them to keep them in the habit of reading and having to analyze.”
At NML, various educational- entertainment programs start off the week every Monday at 2 p.m. The library is at 529 Washington St.
Story times are geared towards elementary-aged children and feature guest readers every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts and math—programs invite children ages 7-12 every Wednesday at 2 p.m.
The library will also have contests based on age groups for the number of books or pages read from May 14 through July 24.
“You want to hook them as young as you can get because you want them to be lifelong learners, so story time is an excellent way to do that,” Weido said. “If they can see that the library is fun and not intimidating…they want to keep seeing what’s going to happen next.”
During Mejia’s appearance, she read “We Are All Related: Mitakuye Owasin” by Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre, a Hunkpapa Lakota from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, to about 30 children.
Mejia said her storytelling emphasizes mental- health education while encouraging readers to make connections to their communities.
“I truly believe that we are all related, and it’s imperative, especially now with (artificial intelligence) and so many distractions for children, to stay rooted and grounded,” Mejia said.
Mejia grew up in Columbus before attending Texas State University in San Marcos. She became a Hays County Master Naturalist and began sharing information about the outdoors through her mermaid persona, she said.
Between showcasing her shiny colorful scales, sharing her Native American heritage and welcoming children first in Spanish and then English, Mejia said “Sirena” invites youngsters to embrace their identities and empathize with others’ experiences.
“Your difference makes you magical,” Mejia said.
Weimar Public Library
The Weimar Public Library welcomes young readers for informative and entertaining programs 10 a.m. Mondays.
The library has a calendar full of “fun and educational activities for visitors of all ages,” according to the staff.
The library held Science Heroes Day June 8.
Eagle Lake
The Eula & David Wintermann Library in Eagle Lake also has books and activities for young people.
To learn more, visit wintermannlib.org or call (979) 234-5411. The library is at 101 N. Walnut St.
