FOX CROSSING (NBC 26) — On Tuesday mornings at Fritse Park in Fox Crossing, kids' imaginations are expanding while they enjoy beautiful summer days outside.
In a collaboration between the Neenah Public Library and the Fox Crossing Parks and Recreation, an event called "Library on the Move" is gathering kids together for storytime and park activities.
Jodi Leslie is the Youth Services Librarian at Neenah Public Library.
She said she tries to choose books that work best for the setting.
“We'll do things around summer or outdoor themes, but we really choose books that have illustrations that are very attractive to a crowd. So, bright colors. Oftentimes... larger illustrations. Not [so] detailed that you would need to look up close," said Leslie.
"And then we look for books with minimal text and maybe some repetition — where the kids can participate with a repeated line,” Leslie said.
The enduring attention from her gathered audience indicates engagement and entertainment in Leslie's reading, which Leslie said she loves to see.
“When there's a park and a big slide on the hill, we feel pretty, like, we must be doing something right if they want to come and sit and listen to us,” Leslie said.
The storytime also includes movement breaks, with dancing, stretching — even scavenger hunts for common items around the park.
When it's time to return for the next story, the librarians will blow a wooden train whistle and the kids come running back.
At the event, parents can also check out library books from a mobile library called the "bibliocycle."
Because the event takes place outdoors, it is not a rain-or-shine event. Some days, a light mist won't deter the bibliocycle, but a downpour means postponement.
In other words: a rainy day keeps the bibliocycle away.
For more information about the event, including contact information for accommodation requests, you can visit the Library on the Move website.
