NEWELL—Young readers got a prehistoric start to their summer reading adventures June 5 at the Newell Public Library. Dinosaurs of the Hell Creek Museum brought fossils and hands-on dinosaur learning to the summer reading program kickoff.
To help launch the event, paleo-technician Kayla Toohill with Dinosaurs of the Hell Creek Museum provided an educational presentation and brought plenty of fossils for readers to touch and hold.
Toohill started her presentation by going around the room and asking all of the kids what their favorite dinosaur was. Most kids had an answer, from pterodactyl to Mosasaurus. For those that didn’t know, Toohill helped them out. “If you don’t have a favorite dinosaur, you’re defaulting to Triceratops. That is the state dinosaur, so that’s where you’re going to default,” she said.
Toohill went on to discuss what fossilization is—the re-mineralization of bone—and where in the local area fossils can be found. “So, over here in Newell, actually, if you go just a couple more miles north of Newell, here you are in dinosaur country,” she explained. She showed a variety of slides, including one that laid out where the Hell Creek formations are.
The youth were invited to gently explore the table of fossils that Dinosaurs of the Hell Creek Museum brought along with them. There were real fossils, 3D-printed fossils, rocks and other items for everyone to examine.
The theme for this year’s program is Unearth A Story. Participants are encouraged to read throughout the summer and record their progress in a reading log available at the Public Library.
Every child who showed up for the summer reading program kickoff was eligible to sign up for prizes that will be drawn at the end of the summer.
This summer’s reading program will include at-home reading along with in-person events beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Fridays in June on the 12, 19 and 26 and July 10 and 17. “Every Friday, except for the Friday during the Fourth of July—so next Friday and the rest through June. Mrs. Parker . . . she’ll read a story to the kids, and then do an activity starting at 10:30 a.m.,” explained Matt Clausen, librarian.
If you haven’t had a chance to sign your kids up for the summer reading program at the Newell Public Library, it’s not too late to join in on the fun! For more information, stop by the library Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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