Traveling 'Around the World' at the Briarcliff Library

The theme for this year’s summer reading program in New York State is "One World, Many Stories."

This was the inspiration for Wednesday's first annual Around the World Family Night at the . 

Created by Amy Kaplan, who serves as the children and young adult librarian, the event was filled with games, activities and music from different countries around the world.

Children were given a passport at the beginning of the evening, and received a stamp at each "country" they visited. There was also a movie which featured Native American storyteller Gregg Howard, who told the story of The Rabbit and the Bear.

“The kids can get a taste of how kids across the world do the same things you do—just a variation,” explained Kaplan. "The Mexican game is a coin toss game and was played by Aztecs to win bars of gold and is very difficult. The Japanese game is similar to our Pin the Tail on the Donkey."

Also part of the evening was the Korean Froggy Dance, Aboriginal dot painting and different snacks from different cultures. With so many activities to choose from, the evening was both a fun and educational one for all involved.

"The Nigeria game is a jump roping game," added Kaplan, "and when I was reading about it, it’s like every culture has a jump roping game!