Bronxville Library Summer Reading and Concert Series Wraps Up with Packed Performance

About 200 children and their parents gathered together on the lawn of the Bronxville Library on Tuesday night for the summer reading series concert finale featuring Zev Haber, an award winning singer/songwriter specializing in children's music.

"I am really excited to be here in Bronxville for the children," he said, "I came last summer to perform. This is my second year and I am really happy to be back. Last year, the weather wasn't as beautiful as it is tonight. We were inside in the theater. But tonight, we're on a perfect night on the lawn in Bronxville."

A Mount Vernon resident, Haber has been performing, writing, and recording original children's music for the past 14 years, but has been creating music with kids since the age of 16.

"Music is something I love to do and I am really excited to bring my stuff here to Bronxville. I started my career because I enjoyed watching how families and children connected through music," he explained, "As parents, sometimes it's hard to connect to small children and music is a way we can all sort of connect to each other."

During the concert, Zev played several selections from his "Chicken Scratch" and "A Dog Who Went Bananas" albums including Erica from America, Karate Chicken, and Three Little Muffins.

Concertgoers enjoyed dancing, participating in the music (counting or shouting out a word as loud as they could), and checking out the various musical instruments Zev brought along, including a banjo, harmonica and world instruments like the berimbau.

Yasmeen Livingston of New Rochelle, a veteran of the summer reading concert series, brought her two children to the event

"It's a good family time. The children absolutely love the performances and sing the songs when they get home," she explained.

Library patrons like Renata, Sophie, and Noah Miller love to use the concert series as a way to end their day.

"We've been to every concert except the very first one of the summer. We've made a tradition of picnicking beforehand, so we're sitting on the picnic blanket and I've tossed together a pasta salad because it's easy and the kids like it," said Renata. "We usually get here really early to setup because we like to be in the first row. We've had a great time and have enjoyed every concert we've been to so far this summer."

Many families try to make every concert, but even when they can't, their children, like Laureen Burke's kids Brendan, Kevin, and Shannon, will many continue to ask about the next one.

"We've only been to one other concert due to scheduling conflicts but since that one concert the children have enjoyed it and have been asking to come back every week. They've been asking because they really do enjoy it."

The Concert Series coincided with the summer reading program for children at the library. 

This is our 6th and final concert," said Erin Schirota, Bronxville Children's Librarian and summer reading and concert series coordinator. "We will try to keep all of the fun programming for the remainder of the summer. The concerts are a very big draw for our patrons, and they are very well attended on average when we have them outside on the lawn. I want to encourage everyone to keep coming to the Bronxville Library, there is something going on for children of all ages."

You can never be too young to start reading.  At 21 months, little Callia Kruse is a library pro. 

"My daughter (Callia) loves dogs and books about dogs, so we have been able to get her a lot of books with the help of the librarian. The library is a great place to use all year round for kids her age with story time and other things that cater to her age group," said her mom, Muriel.

And the children are grateful for all of the work that is put into every concert. Five-year-old Sophie Miller, ran to Schirota after the concert to express her gratitude.

"Thank you very much Ms. Erin for the concert," she said with a slight smile.

"She always thanks me after every concert," beamed Schirota.