Kids can travel the world through reading with Shreve Memorial Library

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The Shreve Memorial Library is offering kids a chance to travel the globe this march at multiple branches.

According to a press release from SML, this March, children are invited to Read Around the World, as the library hosts a series of multicultural story time programs, inspiring all to travel around the world through the pages of books set in various countries across the globe.

Library officials say throughout the month of March, children and their families are encouraged to visit the library for fun, engaging and interactive story time programs featuring stories of diverse cultures, unique characters and faraway places. Programs will take place at Shreve Memorial Library branches throughout Caddo Parish, and all programs are free and open to the public.

Read Around the World programs at Shreve Memorial Library will feature a selection of titles and activities exploring various cultures and countries. Children will enjoy learning about Japan’s bicycle food deliverers in Kyo Maclear’s Noodles on a Bicycle and learning about Indian culture, tradition and food in The Spice Box by Meera Sriram.

Children will learn about Hispanic culture with an interactive “Ojo de Dios” craft at the Broadmoor Branch on Wednesday, March 5, at 4:30 p.m. Children will also travel to countries such as China, Palestine, Nigeria, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy, France, Vietnam, and the United States of America through the pages of picture books.

To keep track of their travels, children will be able to create and fill up book passports at several Shreve Memorial Library branches. At the Atkins and Blanchard Branches, children can visit the library during regular business hours to pick up a passport and fill the passport with countries from the books they read.

At the West Shreveport Branch, children are invited to take a journey around the world and fill their passports with book stops on Tuesday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 25 at 4:45 p.m. All materials for the passports will be provided.

Homeschool students at the North Shreveport Branch will travel the world through a series of nine books, each taking place in a different country. Older students will present each country at a station for the younger students to receive a stamp in their passports and learn more about each country presented.

Registration for the North Shreveport Homeschool Group: Read Around the World activity is required. The program will take place on Friday, March 21 at 10:00 a.m., and those interested can call (318) 674-8172 or visit the branch at 4844 North Market Street to sign up.

Officials say children will have multiple opportunities to read around the world and enjoy stories of other places at a number of interactive story time programs. While story time programs are designed for early learners and children ages 0 – 5, children of all ages are welcome to attend.

Read Around the World story time programs will be held each Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the North Caddo Branch, 615 N. Pine Street in Vivian; each Wednesday starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Rodessa Branch, 10093 Main Street in Rodessa; each Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at the Belcher-Wyche Branch, 409 Charles Street in Belcher; and every Friday at 12:00 p.m. at the Mooringsport Branch, 603 Latimer Street in Mooringsport.

Additional Read Around the World story time programs are scheduled as follows:

Monday, March 3

• 2:00 p.m. at the Gilliam Branch, 12797 Main Street, Gilliam
• 4:00 p.m. at the Hosston Branch, 15478 US Highway 71, Hosston

Tuesday, March 4

• 3:00 p.m. at the Mooretown Branch, 4360 Hollywood Avenue
• 4:00 p.m. at the Higginbotham-Bryson Branch, 9359 Greenwood Road, Greenwood

Wednesday, March 5

• 10:00 a.m. at the Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch, 2105 Hollywood Avenue
• 10:00 a.m. at the Wallette Branch, 363 Hearne Avenue

Thursday, March 6

• 10:00 a.m. at the David Raines Branch, 2855 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive

Monday, March 10

• 12:00 p.m. at the Oil City Branch, 102 Allen Street, Oil City

Wednesday, March 12

• 10:00 a.m. at the Broadmoor Branch, 1212 Captain Shreve Drive
• 10:30 a.m. at the Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch, 8303 Line Avenue

Saturday, March 15

• 10:00 a.m. at the Broadmoor Branch, 1212 Captain Shreve Drive

Wednesday, March 19

• 4:00 p.m. at the Means Branch, 7016 Magnolia Lane, Ida

Thursday, March 20

• 10:30 a.m. at the Hamilton/South Caddo Branch, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop

Wednesday, March 26

• 10:30 a.m. at the Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch, 8303 Line Avenue

All “Read Around the World” programs are free and open to the public. For more information about these and other Shreve Memorial Library programs, please visit the website.