Going under the stars at the library

Ms. Marilyn demonstrates how the earth rotates around the sun. (The sun, in this instance, is played by Matthew.)

We had a very special story time recently at Mentor Library.

There were no picture books. Instead, all the illustrations were drawn in the sky.

After all, before there was any Mo Willems or Eric Carle—before there was even a Gutenberg—people used the stars to tell stories. They looked upward and watched pinpricks of light move across the sky.

But they didn't picture hydrogen fusing into helium at astonishing temperatures. They saw lions and bears and hunters and princesses.

Eva Rajic uses one of the library's iPads to find different constellations.

Ms. Marilyn used the stars (and some technology) to tell the stories of Leo the Lion, Ursa Major and Minor, Castor and Pollux, and more.

Then the kids got crafty. They made their own telescopes, constellations and even created the different phases of the moon with Oreos.

Annaliesse and Grady use marshmallows and toothpicks to recreate the Big and Little Dippers.

We're having fun story times, programs and events all summer at all three of our branches.

And while visiting, you can sign up for our summer reading program. For every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a raffle ticket that can help them win one of dozens of cool prizes—from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Superhero Barbie. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

If a child reads 20 hours by Aug. 1, they will be entered into a special raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys ‘R Us.

Mentor Library also has a summer reading program (and prizes) for teens and adults, as well. For more information about summer reading, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Joseph decorates his telescope at Mentor Library.

For more photos from Mentor Library’s story times, visit our Facebook page.