Nana and Ava ‘Read Together, Grow Together’ at HPL - By JoAnn Beach I am a 70 year old grandmother that has watched my granddaughter almost every day for five years. It wasn’t always easy to entertain her, so thankfully we had the opportunity to visit our Library, Hubbard Public Library (HPL).
Ava was almost two years old when I started taking her, and I looked forward to it as much as she did! We joined the weekly “Rhythm and Rhyme” classes (birth to 24 months). Each child was to pick their name tag from a basket (teaching them to recognize their name), upon which we entered the Children’s Room where they had specific marks on the rug for each child to sit. Every week we had an introduction song and each child was called by name to go up and put their name tag back in the basket. Each child felt special and it was a teaching aid for them to be up in front of the others.
They participated in singing, followed by Story Time with Mrs. Russo and Mrs. Tirabassi acting out the story. This taught the children that it was a time to be still, be quiet and to focus. At the end of the program they would have a hands-on project, sometimes gluing, coloring and working with their hands.
They always began and ended with a song for two special characters, Camille and Leon that sat in a tree during the class. You could just tell how much the children cared for them.
Ava was now turning two, and we furthered our adventure by joining the “Minds in Motion” classes (ages 2-5). This was a more active class and Ava really liked it. Mrs. Tirabassi and Mrs. Balla led the class occasionally with the help of Mrs. Russo. The children developed body awareness, coordination, language, listening and communication skills along with dancing, singing and Story Time.
All of this helped Ava to develop her skills of communicating, participation, and relating with the other children. She was shy and timid at first, but started developing socially and was more comfortable as the weeks progressed.
Mrs. Russo, Mrs. Tirabassi and Mrs. Balla make everything so special for the children. The Hubbard Library is so very lucky to have such devoted, talented and exceptional librarians in the Children’s Room. They go ‘above and beyond’ with their time and talent.
These programs are very important for children. As a community of Hubbard, we are very fortunate to have a wide variety of interests besides being able to read books for our children and grandchildren. HPL is a place that is beautiful, friendly, well-maintained, and a safe environment in which to read, learn and develop.
Ava and I are very grateful for everything the Library has to offer and the funding of the Library is very important.
And, as an avid reader myself, I still very much enjoy picking up and reading a good book!
Many thanks!
JoAnn Beach
April 2021