Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

One State, One Book program a success at Wakefield library

WAKEFIELD – The Wakefield Public Library gathered children for a special reading of “Woolbur” Saturday morning.

The event was part of the Michigan Reads One State, One Book program, in which officials choose a book for children across the state to read each September and October in libraries and schools as a focus on early literacy in children.

To accompany this month’s story hour, Library Director Denise Engel provided sheep and alpaca wool and allowed the children to participate in the process weaving wool into yarn. Children also decorated drawings of sheep in an arts and crafts activity.

Engel said she and her story time partner had both spun wool and it would be good for the children to experience spinning as well.

The Wakefield Public Library holds multiple activities for children, including a tiny tots story hour every month, aimed at children too young to attend school. The library also holds a summer reading program.

Engel said the library refers back to past One State, One Book picks for future story hours. She enjoys this program because great, age-appropriate books by Michigan authors are chosen.

“It allows us to see all the talent in Michigan,” Engel said.