More than kids’ books

Temperatures may have dropped, but the coolest place to be is indoors, especially when inside the Huntington Beach Children’s Library.

Every summer, kids rush in, out and around the 88,000 books housed in the children’s public library, where adventure awaits between every cover.

“Claws, Paws, Scales and Tales,” the summer reading program run by the library, offers children ages 2 and up a chance to exercise their minds during the season where physical activity usually rules.

Avid readers get to dip their hands in the treasure, which was unveiled during the seventh week of the program.

The paws in the title were the focus in the library’s Tabby Storytime Theatre Aug. 8, when nearly 150 toddlers crowded together, often on parents’ laps, to hear Barbara Richardson spin some tales and lead them in song.

Covering all the childhood favorites from “Bingo” to “Do Your Ears Hang Low?” Richardson, who has been with the library since 1988, gave the audience a show that got toddlers who could walk out of the laps and onto the floor dancing and mimicking the hand gestures Richardson applied to all the songs.

Ask those who could talk about the show, though, and you hear one word in praise: “puppets.”

“I like the puppets,” said 2-year-old Jenna Broussard.

For children like Jenna, the addition of puppets gives storytime something extra they don’t often get at home.

Jenna’s mom, Donna Broussard, brings her daughters to the library storytime

“I try to come every week,” Broussard said. “It gives them a chance to listen to a story in a different environment.

“Reading programs are fun for them to do,” Broussard said. “This helped them to have to listen in a different environment with other kids.”

Although the show is intended for children under 3, youngsters up to age 8 could be found in the crowds.

“It’s a lot of entertainment for them to hear songs,” said Patricia Mendoza, who brings a little girl she babysits. “Then after that they can play with the computers.”