School Board member Scott Zeidman was the special guest last night at the Friends of the Library’s “Spooky Story Time and Craft” event at the Julian Dixon Library.
With his young sons Jason and Brandon at his side, Mr. Zeidman arrived dressed in Halloween orange and black, armed with lighted Jack-o’-lanterns, a fiber optic Halloween pumpkin headed scarecrow, and a smack-talking lighted replica skull.
A record crowd of more than 30 children and two dozen adults enjoyed readings of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “The Big Pumpkin,” “Clifford – Costume Contest,” and “The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything.”
Surrounded by the captivated audience, Mr. Zeidman not only read, but also engaged the children by having them read to the delighted crowd.
Parent Tim Takara noted, “The Friends of the Library put on a fantastic event. The kids had a great time reading and doing the crafts. I’d recommend the monthly reading to anyone who has kids.”
Asked about Mr. Zeidman’s performance, Mr. Takara, a friend of the School Board member, laughed.
“You just never know exactly what you are going to get with Scott. He did a great job, and it was certainly worth the price of admission.”
Admission was, of course, free of charge.
Relieved when the event finished, and with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Mr. Zeidman explained, “I hadn’t read either ‘The Big Pumpkin’ or ‘The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything,’ before, so I was a bit concerned that there’d be words I didn’t know. I’m happy the kids were around to assist me with the really tough words.”
After the reading, the children created witches hands out of popcorn and candy corn.
The Friends of the Library, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting the Julian Dixon Library.
The Friends’ efforts enable the library to enrich its resources, enhance its services, and expand its programs to maximize the Library’s role and usefulness in the community.
Past readers have included Vice Mayor Gary Silbiger, David Kuechle, and School District Supt. Myrna Rivera Cote.
Membership in The Friends of the Library is $10 ($5 for students and seniors). Funds raised from membership dues go, among other things, toward the purchase of books, DVDs, CDs, equipment and furniture for the library. Membership applications can be found at http://ccfol.org/Assets/FOL_Membership_Applic_6-2008_side%202.pdf
Mr. Zeidman promised to read again for the Friends of the Library in April, when he will be reading Ernest Thayer’s timeless poem, Casey at the Bat, as well as other baseball-related children’s stories.