By noon Saturday, the Perry Public Library’s fourth annual Take Your Child to the Library Day had already served upwards of 100 area youngsters, and the lines for face painting and balloon twisting showed no signs of slack.
Children Librarian Suzanne Kestel said the turnout was an increase on last year’s for the event promoting good reading habits for the whole family.
Kristine “Sonnie” Jiménez, owner of Sonshine Face Painting in Dallas Center, transformed many dozens of area children into cartoon characters and animals, with the occasional cheeky sports logo, while Davenport-based magician and balloonist Rick Eugene Brammer delighted the youth with his airy animal creations.
Each child attending the library day also took home a free book and had ready access to library-card registration.
Because the goal is a healthy mind in a healthy body, various Perry-area services were on hand to promote their programs, including the New Opportunities Early Head Start and Head Start programs, Dallas County Public Health Department, Perry Child Development Center, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Perry Elementary School Walking School Bus.
The Perry Public Library’s participation in the annual event dates to 2015. Started in 2012 by Connecticut librarians Nadine Lipman and Caitlin Augusta, the annual Take Your Child to the Library Day aims to raise community awareness about the importance of the library in the lives of children.
