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Adding Some Spice To Reading

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 4, 2008

Ghelder Arriaga wants to make reading fun for kids.

That's his job. This year, Arriaga joined the New Port Richey Library as its youth services librarian.

Already, though, he's making a mark. He recently joined Richey Elementary School's advisory council and put together an event last week with the school that introduced students to Hispanic culture and tried to get them thinking about books in a different way.

"Sometimes at school, kids read books just to pass a test," he said. "We wanted to have a day where kids could be kids and get excited about reading."

Richey Elementary students met the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch and Owlie the Owl on Wednesday. They watched their teachers bat around a pinata and painted a papier-mâche tiger that will remain a permanent fixture at the school.

Then each student selected a free book and sat out on the grass to read.

This year, the New Port Richey Library and Richey Elementary partnered to start a local Dia event, an American Library Association program that combines the traditional Dia del Nino Mexican holiday with a celebration of reading.

"While many libraries around the country do displays, we wanted to work with a school and have a whole day devoted to children's books and to multiculturalism and diversity," said Ann Scott, the library's events and outreach coordinator.

Activities included a performance from Orlando puppeteer Deanna Braunstein and her puppet, Milk the Cow. Braunstein read stories about cows, told jokes and sang songs.

"When you add puppets to the mix of books and storytelling, you inspire kids to use their imagination," she said.

Jose Lopez, 8, enjoyed the performance - but offered some constructive criticism.

"That cow puppet was cute and pretty funny, though it might have told better jokes," said the second-grader.

After the puppet show, the kids ventured onto school grounds to meet and get candy from several costumed characters - actually, student volunteers from The Marine Institute.

Then they made handprints, painted made by Richey Elementary art teacher Deb Kirk and sang "La Bamba" and "Macarena."

"We have a high English as a Second Language population and a Spanish inclusion team at the school," said Melissa Murray, the school's reading specialist. "This is why the celebration fits together so beautifully."

Before Wednesday's celebration, students read books such as "Abuela," (Spanish for "grandmother,") and studied the cultures of other nations.

"There are a lot of different cultures and languages at our school," said second-grader Kaylee Graf, 8. "We just studied Australia. I learned that they eat crocodile sandwiches over there."

Of course, it's not all so different.

"They also have McDonald's," Jose said.

The school also planned a multicultural dinner for students, parents and teachers Wednesday night, and students ate Mexican food for lunch.

School officials also paired the Dia celebration with a book give-away from RIF, or Reading is Fundamental. The national program allows schools to buy books at a discount and then give them to students for free.

"Through three RIF distributions this year, we've given away 1,970 books," said Lisa Broere, the school's RIF coordinator.

All in all, the day was a big success, Principal Ken Miesner said.

"This joint project between the school and library promotes reading and the diversity of cultures," he said. "Plus, the kids get to get messy at school."

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