Harrison library welcomes children to dive into summer reading with new outdoor storytime

Riverview Memorial Park in Tarentum will transform once a week into a beachfront paradise for an outdoor summer reading program sponsored by the Community Library of Allegheny Valley.

The program, “Oceans of Possibilities,” will offer a bevy of literacy activities at the Harrison library on Broadview Boulevard and for the first time also will include storytime outdoors.

“We are trying to reach out to the community in new ways to help our library services be available to as many people as possible,” library director Suzy Ruskin said. “Storytime in the Park seemed like a good fit with parents and children already at the playground and splash park.”

The outdoor stories will kick off at noon June 14 at the park on First Avenue. They will run each Tuesday for seven weeks through July 26.

Children’s Librarian Judy Errico has special plans for participants that include rhymes, dances and songs about swashbuckling pirates, mermaids and treasure chests.

“We want to reach the children of Tarentum that might not have transportation to our library in Natrona Heights,” Errico said.

She hopes for a captive audience from the many children who frequent the park’s popular water play/spray area.

“We thought lunchtime might make a good time for a break to eat and hear a good story,” she said.

The indoor program launches three days prior, on Saturday, at the library. Children across the Highlands School District are invited to a summer luau from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Ruskin encouraged people to bring leis and grass skirts, enjoy games and refreshments, and meet summer mascot Clark the Shark.

Weekly programs will follow with a fantastical series of stories and crafts that dive into aquatic themes.

Virtual lessons also are available.

From 11 to 11:30 a.m. June 13, children can log on for “20,000 Books Under the Sea,” which features main character Page Turner, who needs help at her mysterious lighthouse.

During the same time June 16, a video tutorial will illustrate how to make “Happy as a Clam” cookies.

“We have something every day at the library until July 30,” Ruskin said. “We have tons of activities, books, crafts and seafaring fun in store.”