Southern Lehigh Public Library’s Annual Read Around the World Program Finishes the Year Internationally

March 29 marked the ninth annual “Read Around the World” program at the Southern Lehigh Public Library, a popular experience for children grades 2-5 that takes them on a literary journey through other cultures and countries. Sponsored in partner by the Kiwanis Club of Southern Lehigh, the program began March 1 and ran each Tuesday of the month, touching on a different country each session. Enrolled students received a 'passport' at the start of the program and then a stamp for each country they learned about.

Hosted by guests with personal connections to each country of focus, sessions included stories, songs, crafts, and even language tutorials. This year children learned about China, Peru, and Uganda, among others.

Last night’s party celebrated the final chapter for this year as children and their families listened to professional storyteller Sandy Taylor. Storytelling opened with a drumbeat and a song, followed by a Native American tale. Later stories hailed from Russia, Ghana, and India, and children participated with call-response roles and singing. At the end of the program Taylor encouraged her audience to adopt the role of storyteller themselves, asking children to tell the tales once or twice more when they got home.

"When you can see in your mind the story that you're telling - when  you can see the pictures - your audience can too," Taylor told the gathered crowd, stressing the importance of the storyteller's imagination.

Taylor herself donned a different garment to represent each story. Themes in the stories included lessons on greed, teasing, and self-esteem.

At the end of the evening international refreshments were served, some of which the program members had brought from home to share, which included unusual treats like lychee gummies and fortune cookies.

Library representative Janet Kichline expressed excitement for the upcoming year, which may include different lessons about other countries, so students involved this year are welcome to enroll again.

"Next year will be big, because it's the tenth," Kichline says, referring to the program's tenth year of operation.

A listing of other youth programs offered by the SoLeHi Public Library can be found here.