MK_062019

mokenamessenger.com life & arts
the mokena messenger | June 20, 2019 | 17
Picnic perseveres despite rainy day
T.J. Kremer III, Editor
The weather for Mokena Community
Public Library District’s
return of Teddy Bear Picnic
on Saturday, June 15, may not
have wanted to cooperate, but
that didn’t stop children, their
families and library staff from
going ahead with the planned
event anyway: They just simply
moved the picnic indoors.
Children were treated to an
hour of stories, dancing and, of
course, picnicking with their favorite
stuffed animals. Library
staff even handed out free teddy
bears that wore T-shirts with the
library’s logo on them.
“We made do,” said Emily
Grigoletti, who took over as
head of youth services in March.
“They’re watching videos and
dancing and we got to listen to
Ava Zahara (left), 7, of Mokena, and Reed Helbig, 6, of New Lenox,
dance during Mokena Community Library District’s Teddy Bear
Picnic Saturday, June 15. T.J. Kremer III/22nd Century Media
some books.”
Teddy Bear picnic used to
be a regular event at the library
back when it first opened, according
to Office Manager Tracy
Domzalski. Then, the program
was resurrected for the library’s
50th anniversary in 2016. It
rained that day, too, Domzalski
said. But, when Grigoletti took
over youth services, she decided
to bring Teddy Bear Picnic back
once again.
“We’ve decided that we’re going
to keep doing it over and over
again because the kids like it so
much,” Domzalski said. “Hopefully,
next year, the weather will
cooperate with us and we’ll actually
be able to do it outside like
we’re supposed to.”
Teddy Bear Picnic is part of
the library’s annual summer
reading program. During the
program, children are given a
reading log each week where a
certain amount of minutes of
reading are required each week,
depending on his or her grade
level.
“We really encourage reading
over the summer for the kids,”
Grigoletti said.
At the end of the week, children
turn in those logs for prizes,
which include coupons to local
businesses.
“We have a lot of fun stuff
planned for them. Hopefully,
that means that they’re coming
in and reading,” Grigoletti said.
Upcoming programs include:
Storytime in the Park this Thursday,
June 20, next to Mokena Elementary
School; a Lego building
party on Saturday, June 22; a kickball
tournament and other outdoor
games later in the month on June
27; and a water balloon fight in
July. Additionally the library has
scheduled its usual magician and
reptiles shows, which are frequently
a big hit with children.
The Summer Reading program
runs through July 30 and is
open to all children. For more information,
visit mokenalibrary.
org.
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