Community Corner

West Harrison Library Summer Reading - The Party Continues

Jason Reilly tells the library's youngest readers about weather balloons and teaches them how to touch the animals he brought along from Greens Meadows Farm.

All the adults celebrating the children's library summer reading kick-off were super good sports on Monday. Among those dancing the chicken dance along about 100 eager young readers were Assemblyman for the 93rd district David Buchwald, Mayor Belmont, and 37th District State Senator George Latimer.

In fact, the children's room was absolutely packed and the energy was high throughout the afternoon. It was a veritable celebration of books and, in particular, books with animals in the theme. Indeed, the children's summer reading program at West Harrison Library was THE place to be on a hot summer afternoon.

Highlights included the chicken dance and a chance for the children to touch all the animals, (not the tarantula, of course), which were brought along by Jason Reilly from Green Meadows Farm of Floral Park. Critters included a fuzzy bunny, bugs, frogs, turtles, and all manner of creepy crawly things. 

Super hero library staff  Galina Chernykh and Liz Karkoff were on hand to cheer on the youngest readers who had the opportunity to select animal-themed books from the shelves after the chicken dance and touch-an-animal program.

Participants in the summer reading program will have the chance to win super prizes (see attached photo for prize list).

Chernykh took a moment away from helping the children fund books to thank Assemblyman Buchwald for supporting the library and for supporting the New York State construction grant to replace the library's flat roof and the its failing air conditioning, which according to Chernykh is 20 years old.

Returning compliments in kind, assemblyman Buchwald beamed back his encouragement. "I'm here to support libraries, especially children's libraries, which are all about instilling a love of reading," Buchwald told Patch. "I am so proud to participate in West Harrison's summer reading kick-off and see the children so excited about the program!"

Watch this space for future news on Harrison Library events.


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