Children Enjoy Stories and Snacks at the Library

Christine Sommers enjoys taking her three children to the each  Monday after school.  For Sommers, it’s an opportunity for her kids to listen to stories while sharing a healthy afternoon snack with children their ages.

 “They love to come and read stories and eat snacks,” she said.  “Who could beat that?”

 Sommers takes her 8 year-old daughter and  her two sons, ages 6 and 5, to , a weekly event held every Monday from 3:45 p.m.- 4:15 p.m.in the children’s section of the Hingham Public Library. 

invites children, ages 5-8, to listen to stories, create  fun crafts, and eat an after school snack provided by .

 “[The librarians] pick out quality books and the kids enjoy meeting other kids,” said Lynn Gay, a mother of two, who views the library as a great afternoon hang out spot.

 On Monday March 14,  in the story telling room, a crowd of over a dozen children and their parents listened to librarian Kathleen McGonagle read children stories and tell children’s jokes.   During the stories, the children ate a snack consisting of strawberries, pineapples, cantaloupe slices, and almond butter and jam sandwiches.

 Ocean Waller, a Healthy Eating Specialist at in Hingham set up a table where she handed out the snacks and looked to promote healthy eating.

“We put out healthy foods and that’s how you get kids to change their habits,” Waller said.

 Samantha Garland, a seventh grade student at the , was also present as a volunteer  to read stories to the elementary school children.

 “I love reading and I want to help younger kids love to learn to read,”  Garland said.

After reading, McGonagle and Garland assisted the children in creating a St. Patrick’s Day-themed door hanger as part of their  art project

 The Hingham Public Library also offers from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Mondays,  on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m .to 10:50 a.m. and on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m .to 10:50 a.m.

For more information on library events, visit their website: www.hinghamlibrary.org or call (781) 741-1405.