Kids in the Bella Vista Public Library stomped and clapped and snapped and jumped together to form a thunderstorm before sitting down for a pair of stories.
Museum of Native American History programming assistant Elyse Partee said she brought two of her favorite children's books, "Kali's Song" by Jeanette Winter and "Following Papa's Song" by Gianna Marino, which she used to highlight natural sounds. Those sounds, she said, are the same kind that influenced Native Americans' music.
"We're talking about music that happens in nature -- because there is music in nature," she told the gathered kids. "We make music ourselves, but there's plenty of music around us."
She guided her audience to mimic the sounds of whales and other wildlife throughout the stories.
Partee said that she does a lot of summer programs at libraries and they're often fun, as well as a good chance to show off her museum, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary later this year.
"Super sweet kids," she said.
Library events coordinator Bailley Kinser said that this was the first of this year's Summer Reading Series. This summer, she explained, music is the theme.
Music in the world around us, she said, was an interesting topic and it may give attendees something to think about well after they leave.
The next presentation, coming Thursday, July 5, at 10 a.m., will feature a magician doing a rock-and-roll-themed magic show, and following that will be a science of music presentation on July 7 at 2 p.m.
While the library does have books, she said, people are beginning to realize it is offering more than reading material.
"It's educational, but it's also really fun," she said.
One attendee, Sherry Ray, brought her grandson, Landon Kennedy, 4.
He learned about music, she said, as well as what a mammoth is -- something he initially mistook for an elephant.
"I enjoyed it and Landon wants to go to the museum now," she said.
General News on 06/27/2018