Wild Animals Visit Grand Terrace Library

Kids leaving the library last Thursday, June 20, walked away with a new understanding of wild animals, while several others left with a new book as well. Every summer like clockwork, parents begin deliberating about where to send their kids over summer and which programs will be most beneficial. Last week, the Grand Terrace Library invited children and their parents to take a closer look at a handful of wild animals brought in by The Wildlife Company. The library has been offering a summer reading program for the kids of the community, which helps keep children’s minds active all summer long. Library Branch Manager Lisa Llewellyn said, “We have performers every week for the summer reading program,” adding that the more reading kids log, they become eligible for more and more incentives, with the grand finale being a pizza party at the last event. Library Assistant and Children’s Specialist Jennifer Palma noted that this event is one of the biggest hits within the community and the turnout for this particular wildlife event was the biggest to date. Of the 176 in attendance, 121 of them were kids hoping to get a closer look at the animals. Children sat on the floor eagerly hoping to get called up by Wildlife Educator and Trainer, Kelsey Barker. Barker, who has worked with exotic animals for just over a year, said, “Teaching kids is awesome because they get so excited, and it’s a great way to get a connection to the animals.” Hoping to generate a connection between the kids and the animals, Barker called on several of the young audience members to stand front and center, where they were then allowed to pet and hold the animals. The elementary-aged children squealed and shrieked in excitement with each new animal brought out by Barker. The wild animals ranged in size, with the smallest being a hedgehog and the largest a snake. After the wildlife exhibit, library volunteers and staff members called out numbers for a raffle, giving away books to the winners. This six-week summer reading program kicked off June 1. Each week the library will feature a new performance or event, and will continue giving away book bags among various other incentives to kids who join the program. Those kids who are signed up will be eligible to win a digital tablet, which will be given away at the end of the program. For more information, call 909-783-0147.