Outdoor Event Attracts Lititz Families
The grass was still covered with bright dew drops, but that did not deter families from placing their blankets at carefully spaced green flags, which indicated safe social distancing. The sounds of nearby construction, traffic noise, and the occasional buzz of a passing airplane punctured the quiet morning, but Amy Moyer and Shannon Richard, coordinators of the Lititz Public Library Backyard Storytime on Sept. 1, were armed with a microphone and speakers to cut through these sounds.
By 9:30 a.m., several mothers with young children had laid their blankets on the grass. In spite of the few drops that fell from the sky every now and then, Moyer and Richard stood on the raised stone patio at the back of the library. "Welcome, everyone," proclaimed Moyer into the microphone. "We are so happy you're here and that you have chosen to come and have some fun at the library today." She introduced Richard and noted that attendees are asked to wear their masks from the time they arrive until the family is seated.
Story time opened with the song "Alabama, Mississippi" by Jim Gill. Moyer, Richard, and the family members on the grass sang and clapped along and shook their hands in time to the music as the lyrics directed. When the song finished, Moyer directed each family to white bags located at their designated spots. "There's one for each family," she said. "Pull out the book 'Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!' (It's) a gift for your family from the library. The book was selected to be part of this year's Pennsylvania One Book, Every Young Child Campaign." Moyer encouraged the families to follow along as she read from Bob Barner's book that talks about fluttering butterflies and spotted ladybugs. The reading was followed with a "buggy" song, "Shoo, Fly, Don't Bother Me." The lyrics suggested the children jump like frogs, flap their arms to mimic a bird taking off, and crawl like a bug.
Richard read the second book. "Our next book is a big book," she said, gesturing to Moyer, who stood to Richard's right holding up the enormous book. "The title is the name of the book, (which is) 'In the Tall, Tall Grass,' and the author is Denise Fleming. She wrote the story," Richard explained to the children. Richard read to the gathering about all the things found in the tall grass, while Moyer turned the oversized pages so children could see the brightly colored pictures. The story explored the tall grass and pointed out occupants including ants and snakes and moles. "Can you snap like you're catching a fly with your tongue?" Richard asked. The book ended by saying "goodnight" to the tall grass, and Richard asked the children if they could pretend to be going to sleep.
The group then sang "The Ants Go Marching," counting up to four by four, before Moyer read "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" by Iza Trapani. The children heard about how the tiny spider climbed a pail, a rocking chair, and a maple tree before spinning a web and resting in the sun. The reading was followed by singing the song about the same spider, which included teaching the American Sign Language sign for "spider." "Open up your hands, cross them over, and grab pinkies together so that your fingers become spidery legs," said Moyer.
The gathering closed before 10 a.m. with a special goodbye song that included verses that say so long to the girls, the boys, and all the wiggle worms. Moyer and Richard called goodbye to everyone and the group on the lawn responded with applause.
The library plans to hold Backyard Storytimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. each day. The events are weather dependent and open to children of all ages with caregivers. Readers who wish to attend must register prior to the event by calling 717-626-2255 or visiting the library.
A Zoom Storytime with Richard will be held at 10 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 14. Readers who wish for their children to take part should email srichard@lititzlibrary.org to register.
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