The Montgomery Area Public Library is going strong more than 113 years after it was founded. The library offers a variety of programs that cater to all ages. One of those programs is Book Buddies, a special activity group for small children. Originally the group was designed for ages 2 – preschool, but during the summer months school-aged children may participate as well. Children must attend with a parent or caregiver.

The Book Buddies program is led by library director Amber Adams and librarian Cynthia Bryan. The two women take turns leading the meetings. The format and activities may vary week by week. The group sometimes opens with a song or two, with Adams commenting that children enjoy singing along to “The More We Get Together” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Stories and crafts are always key parts of each meeting. The craft activity always corresponds with the theme of the book chosen for the week.

When Book Buddies met on July 3, the theme was butterflies. Adams read a book about butterflies, then invited the children to come to the front of the library and see an enclosure of caterpillars that were in their cocoons. She announced that when they have developed into butterflies and are ready to be released into the wild, that they would be set free in Heritage Park behind the library at a future Book Buddies meeting.

After the children were done looking at the cocoons, they made butterfly crafts made from pipe cleaners and coffee filters that they colored with markers. The children were really engaged in the activity and happy to show their creations once they were done.

When the children were done with their crafts, they were treated to a snack as well as free time to look at books, visit with the other children, and spend time in the play area on the first floor.

While the children were having fun, they were benefitting in more ways than they realized. Adams expressed the importance of story books for small children by noting the many ways that children can benefit from being read to. “When we are children, the world can seem like a very large and scary place. Picture books can show parts of the world to a child in little snippets that encourage curiosity and learning. Books are a wonderful escape into the land of imagination. They get to see the world through the eyes of the illustrator and author. They get to see themselves represented in many stories. Engaging young minds encourages growth and development. A child who is read to develops critical thinking skills, creativity, and empathy, as well as bonding with others, and fosters a future love for reading.”

Bryan also enjoys reading to the children when she leads Book Buddies. When asked why, she answered, “Just making the kids happy, seeing their reaction to the books, and having them question some of the things in the books.”

Bryan’s roots at the Montgomery Area Public Library run deep. Her great-great grandfather was Joseph Koons, who donated books to the library when it was first founded more than a century ago. Joseph Koons granddaughter was Mildred Crissman, who later became the librarian. Mildred’s daughter Donna Chrisman eventually served as the librarian as well. Donna was Cynthia’s mother, making her a third-generation librarian. Her aunt, Beverly Crissman, served as a library board member. Her love of learning was inspired by her father who encouraged her to read, as well as by her own childhood trips to the library when her grandmother was the librarian. When asked what her favorite thing was about Book Buddies, she said, “The fact that the library is no longer a quiet place. It’s full of fun and activity.”

It isn’t only the children that benefit from Book Buddies, but parents and caregivers as well, according to Adams. “Their parents and caregivers enjoy the time to connect and chat . . . I’ve watched the families get to know one another throughout their visits. Their children get to socialize and make friends in a safe space and play pretend with puppets, games, puzzles, our play kitchen, dollhouses, and toys. Our rabbit Monty is great for teaching children to be kind to animals. They love to talk to him and include him in their play. Some children have drawn pictures of him, too. They also get to see how the library staff do their jobs. They are always asking questions and we are happy to answer and teach them how the books come to be on the shelf, and how we check materials in and out for patrons. They are very curious and love to learn. Library kids become library adults. We get to be a part of their childhood memories. That is really special.”

Adams said that they also plan outdoor activities for children. They like to go to Heritage Park and have decorated the library’s sidewalk with sidewalk chalk. “We encourage them to have an adventure outside and learn about nature. Most of our activities for Book Buddies are centered around nature as a theme,” Adams added.

Book Buddies is fun for kids, but it’s also fun for library staff. Adams commented, “I love watching kids get excited about visiting the library. Their enthusiasm is contagious. I love watching them grow and be proud of themselves when they complete a craft. They love to tell you about their day and their favorite things. Just knowing we’ve added a little joy to their day is the reason we love what we do, working in the public library. We love our library families and are lucky to be included in their children’s development. My wish is that when they are all grown up, they will visit and tell stories about their fondest library memories, of which I hope to be a part.”