Children’s Librarian Amy Mayhill led preschoolers in a few choruses of the action song “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” on Tuesday, just to “get the wiggles out.” Then everyone settled down for storytime at the Great Bend Public Library.

This week’s storytime was a special selection. In honor of the 2019 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers, libraries across the state will be reading the same book, “I Like Myself,” by Karen Beamont, to children. The Great Bend Public Library will hold another storytime with a reading of this book at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, and GBPL staff will also go to every preschool and daycare in town and read this story to them in November, Mayhill said.

Barton Community College’s Early Childhood Education Program and the Barton Library will also host a fun Kansas Reads to Preschoolers event from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, in the BCC Library.

There will be read-a-louds with many activities and finger-snacks and drawings for free literacy materials, said Teri Smith at the college. 

The program is recommended for children ages 3-5 years.

Reservations are appreciated but not required for Monday’s program and can be made by contacting Smith, 620-792-9255 or smithte@bartonccc.edu.

Great Bend Reading Initiative

November is also the time when USD 428 sponsors the Great Bend Reading Initiative. This year, children from preschool age through second grade are reading “The Little Red Hen.”

Great Bend Public Library is also involved in their initiative and a big celebration is planned on Saturday, Nov. 16, Mayhill said.