Tuesday, May 30, 2000

Clown helps area children 'invent' future

George Tuley/Caller-Times

Lanky the Clown will help kick off the 2000 Texas Summer Reading Club today at the Corpus Christi Central Library.

For more information
   For times and dates of reading club children's programs at specific branch libraries, call 880-7021.
  
   There are just some things Lanky the Clown will never reveal. He'll never, for example, admit his age, other than to say he's "old enough to know better." Mum's the word also when it comes to his magic trick how-to's.
   But when it comes to reading material, he is as forthcoming with his favorite titles and authors as his red nose is big and his clown shoes oversized.
   Among his favorite bedtime stories are "The Big Comfy Couch" series, which he'll talk about beginning at 11 a.m. today at the Corpus Christi Central Library, 805 Comanche St., where he helps the local public library system kick off the 2000 Texas Summer Reading Club.
   "Yes, even clowns read," said Lanky, who is reading "Gesundheit" by Patch Adams when not eliciting giggles and grins from young audiences.
   During a 45-minute comedy magic show tailored especially for the library's reading club, Lanky, portrayed by local resident and professional clown Danny Kollaja, will introduce readers to a summer-long, three-part adventure involving the past, present and future. The annual program, sponsored by the Texas State Library, is designed for children as old as 15. This year's theme, "Invent the Future! Read!" takes participants back to dinosaurs and cavemen, then catapults them to the outer reaches of an as-of-yet undiscovered, faraway galaxy.
   "Our goal is to reinforce the reading, spelling and grammar skills kids learned during the school year," said Rose Mary Cortez, children's services coordinator with the Corpus Christi Public Library. "Parents, on the other hand, don't have to worry about having to come up with additional funds to keep kids busy during the summer months. All this is free and we encourage parents to attend and spend time with us in the library."
   Every child who reads at least 10 books will receive a set of coupons provided by local merchants redeemable for free ice cream, meals, skating rink admission and reduced-price to the Texas State Aquarium. The coupons are good through Sept. 30.
   Arts and craft activities incorporated into this year's story-time programming include the making of dinosaurs, mapping the planets, building a rocket, dreaming up time travel adventures and forming alien masks. Activities also include drama skits.
  
  
 

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