Under a shade tree next to the Farmers Market in Lampe Park in Gardnerville sat about 35 children Wednesday, most of them listening intently to Carol Nageotte, known as "Miss Carol," tell stories.
With a line of books standing in front of them, with titles like "Babar the Elephant" and "Horton Hears a Who," Nageotte introduced the next book, "Emma Kate," by Patricia Polacco.
"This book is about an imaginary elephant," said Nageotte. "(The author) had an imaginary elephant when she was little."
The theme was pachyderms on Wednesday, and Nageotte tries to have a different theme each week, many times related to a holiday. Following storytime, which is presented by the Douglas County Public Library in Minden from 10-11 a.m. every Wednesday at Lampe Park, the children are invited to make crafts pertaining to the theme. This week they made elephants from paper plates and construction paper.
"When she reads to the kids, she looks at them and makes them interested," said Melissa Warren, a Gardnerville resident who brought her two sons Miles, 6, and Reed, 4.
"They were very attentive, listening to stories," said Warren. "(Miles) even brought all his friends to listen. (Nageotte) has different voices for the different characters. She's very animated. She's very good."
The children squirmed around a little, occasionally the younger ones cried, but mostly they listened.
"Skylyn got a lot out of it today," said Barbara Campbell of Gardnerville of her 7-month-old granddaughter, sitting on a blanket with her daughter, Tracey Rasmussen and other granddaughter, Savannah, 4 1/2.
Campbell explained that she and her husband, Doug, have been attending storytime with their daughter and grandchildren for years in the summertime.
"I come in the morning. I usually go to work after this," said Campbell. "Savannah has been coming since she was really little. We also bring our other granddaughter, Riley Jeffries, (5) here occasionally. This is our third summer."
"We usually walk through the market and they do crafts, then we go to work," said Doug.
Heidi Phillips of Gardnerville runs a daycare and brought her children, Justin, 6, and Cody, 8, as well as two children she watches.
"We try to get here whenever we can," said Phillips. "It gives them a little activity to do."
She said they also go to other library events they find out about in the newspaper and also through fliers sent home when the children are in school.
Barbara Campbell said her grandchildren go to other library events too, such as a presentation on wolves a couple weeks ago, where a real wolf came to Minden Park.
"Savannah went to the wolf event with her dad," said Campbell. "It was on Father's Day and they did a craft with a star. It's nice they stick with the seasons."
n Storytime is also offered at 11 a.m. for preschoolers and 1 p.m. for grade school children on Thursdays through Aug. 19 at the Douglas County Public Library Lake Tahoe branch, 233 Warrior Way in Zephyr Cove.
n The Douglas County Public Library also offers a summer reading program "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales." The Minden library is having special stories and crafts on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Children 3 and older are invited. The library is located at 1625 Library Lane in Minden.
n The library is also offering a presentation, Nature's Critters with Julie Allen, 4 p.m., July 21 at Minden Park on Esmeralda Avenue, or at 1 p.m. the same day at the library in Zephyr Cove. Allen will bring her bugs, snakes, lizards and other animal friends for a hands-on program teaching the importance animals play in the survival of the planet. For more information these events and others put on by the library, call 782-9841, Minden, or 588-6411, Zephyr Cove.
n Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 210.
