Dinosaurs lived for millions of years, and they lived millions of years ago.  They have also been popular with kids for about the same amount of time.  This summer, dinosaurs are the focus of the summer reading programs across the state, with the slogan “Unearth the Story” chosen for the event.

Oneida County Library is excited to bring the beloved summer reading program back to town, free of charge to all those from birth to 18 years old who are interested in reading and learning more about the world around them, through the month of June.  Events are scheduled to be held at the Park on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m.  This week, weather led to the event being rescheduled for Thursday, June 11.

As part of the event, readers were given the opportunity to adopt their own dinosaurs and pledge to take care of it throughout the summer reading program.  Participants will be given a dino when they sign up to serve as a reading companion as they work through the summer.  Hours need to be logged, and will be turned in at the end of June.

A separate Adult Reading program is also being held this summer, from June 8 to August 31.  

Information on the events and programs can be found at oneidacountylibrary.org.

Dinosaurs visit the museum

The adoption pairs nicely with a visit from the Idaho Museum of Natural History’s Mobile Museum, which will be parked across from the Pioneer Museum on June 20 during the day. Museum educator Pam Pascali will welcome young dino-learners to her mobile learning center to find out more about fossils, dinosaur skeletons, hand on activities and real pieces of Idaho’s ancient past.

She comes equipped with a scale replica of a skeleton of Idaho’s state dinosaur, the Oryctodromeus.  The dino is a dog-sized burrowing herbivore, whose name means “digging runner.”  The oryctodromeus lived almost 100 million year during the Cretaceous period.  “People have been loving seeing this!” Pascali said, and she can’t wait to see you there.