Annual Family Days Event Promotes Literacy and a Love of Reading

Readers and literature lovers were abundant in Redlands on Saturday, Oct. 5. Dozens of families came out to enjoy the A.K. Smiley Library’s 10th Annual Family Days event, which for the last decade has become a library tradition in hopes to promote literacy and foster a love of learning in residents at a young age. This year the festival featured noted children’s author Debra Frasier, who was on site to greet readers and sign copies of her book “A Fabulous Fair Alphabet,” which were pre-sold at Redlands’ Frugal Frigate bookstore. This year’s theme revolved around the alphabet, with many games and booths available for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, and centered on helping expand vocabulary, shared Pamela Bunch, the library’s Youth Services Librarian for four years. “We have an alphabet game this year that asks children to find two words each that begin with every letter in the alphabet. They can do this by touching, seeing, smelling, tasting or hearing,” she said. “Our game booths also have words that they may not know, to help them learn words they haven’t heard before.” Charlotte Huck began the event 10 years ago. She was a resident who had taught children’s literature at Ohio State University. She has since passed away, said Bunch, but the Smiley Library continues to host the event each year to continue the mission of encouraging literacy and a love of reading, shared Bunch. It was put on this year by the combined work of the Family Day at Smiley Library Committee, the Friends of the A.K. Smiley Public Library, the University of Redlands, the Smiley Library Endowment Fund and the Assisteens of Redlands. The event each year draws a crowd of hundreds, shared Bunch, who said, “This event is for the whole family. We are also showcasing our library, but promoting reading is our big goal. We want to highlight new books and authors for people to read,” she said. Other activities during the day included the chance to visit with Ben the Therapy Dog, to whom children could read; a gardening area where children made bubbles with members of the Horticulture Club of Redlands; face-painting booths; and read-alouds with members of the Redlands police and fire departments, and other city leaders. The Lincoln Shrine was also open for viewing, with Mr. Lincoln himself walking the grounds, shared Bunch. Each child in attendance also received a free book, shared Bunch.