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EAGLE LAKE – The annual summer reading program returned to the Eula & David Wintermann Library and on Wednesday, June 28, attendees were in for a treat.
Attendees were able to enjoy a program by Talewise presented on the theme, “Saving the Earth Together.” Talewise’s mission is about learning powered by stories. Talewise presenter Dorci Leissner said what she enjoys about these types of programs is that it allows them to be able to get kids involved in story and stimulate the love of science.
“What we do is we tell a little bit of a story that segues into a science experiment that helps to reinforce that part of the story,” Leissner said. “And then we get them to interact during the story, and then we also get volunteers ... sometimes they’re shy at first, but then when they start seeing people come up, they’re like, ‘oh wait, hold on, I want to get up there.’” Each year, the Wintermann Library Summer Reading Program adds some type of interaction through its programs weekly to help foster in the initiative behind early childhood literacy. This year, the program which started June 7, kicked off the interactions with a Rick Stromoski Illustration presentation of “Let’s Draw Pets” on June 12. The following weeks featured presentations from the Houston Museum of Natural Science “Exploring Energy” on June 14, “A Real Madhatter Puppet Show” on June 21.
Librarian Vicki Powers said the kids enjoy the interaction with the performer. Overall, she said the kids have been doing well this year in the program and have been doing a lot of reading.
“The kids have been great. I think we have more reading this year than we’ve had in the past,” she said. “Before COVID, we would have like 125 kids enrolled and I would give away 60 to 70 certificates and free books.”
She said this year, the program has enrolled 56 kids and is working on distributing certificates based on ages groups.
“Age four through second grade, when they read 10 books, they get a certificate, a free book and another small prize,” she said. “And then the third through the sixth grade after they’ve read 375 pages, they get their book certificate and a small prize. And then they just keep adding up. And every time they read 10 books or 375 pages, they get a ticket and they put their name on the back of the ticket and then they place the tickets in the boxes in front of the prizes and on the 19th, we’ll have drawings to see who win the prizes.”
At the end of the program, John Morales from the Astros Foundation gave out Astros t-shirts, rally towels, and drew names for a World Series Championship replica ring. Summer reading program participant Lane Kolafa won the ring.
This is Morales’ first year volunteering with the foundation, but giving back to the community is not new to Morales. He recalls the times he helped the community through his business, 4j’s Sno Cones.
“We used to do functions every time somebody needed help; we would do it,” Morales said, “If it was a fundraiser or death in the family, we would barbecue or have movie nights there. It was just the family deal for me and the kids.”
Morales said he does his best to step up in the community because there is not a lot to offer the youth in Eagle Lake. Morales said that he also served with the Chamber of Commerce for eight years. He said he is glad that his role with the foundation has expanded his network and will allow him to help out more in the community.
“I just care too much about these kids,” he said. “So, I’m gonna keep on and whatever comes my way, I’ll help the kids out and the community. It’s a community thing, that’s all. I just can’t wait to see what happens.”
Morales said the foundation has plans on more ways to give back to the youth in the Eagle Lake community.
Powers described Morales’ presentation of giving out Astros gear as an “an added bonus.”
The summer reading program starts each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Attendees range from age 4 to those going into the sixth grade. The next presentation on July 5 will feature a program titled, “Crocodi le Encounter.” The library will host an ending party on July 19.
