The Booth Library will be hosting its first ever Curiosity Day here at Eastern for the children and parents of the Charleston area on Saturday at 10am in the Ballenger Teachers Center.

This will be the Teachers Center’s first celebration of Curiosity Day giving the children of the Eastern and Charleston community a chance to hear classic stories, make fun crafts and take part in fun activities.

The Booth Library will host additional story times on Saturday mornings from 10am-11am on Sept. 26, Oct. 3, 10, and 31, and Nov. 7 and 14.

Curiosity Day started with the Boston Public Library many years ago and has expanded to many schools, libraries and bookstores across the country.

The Booth Library is hoping to make Curiosity Day an annual event at Eastern and hopefully the children and parents will agree. Curiosity Day is a day to celebrate and encourage the love of reading and curiosity; which will help enhance the literature of children everywhere.

Jeanne Goble, Senior Library Specialist at Booth library said she hopes the event will be a success.

“I’m hoping that Saturday’s program will be a fun, exploratory day filled with stories, games, and crafts,” Goble said.  “We would like to encourage children and their parents to use the collection and have fun.”

It is also a day to celebrate the 70 years of the infamous monkey, Curious George and his creators, Margret and Hans Rey.

Celebration Day is for them and the celebration of the many stories and adventures that Curious George has encountered in the past 70 years.

Popular books that will be read on Saturday include; Curious George by H.A. Rey, along with another monkey themed book called, Monkey And Me by Emily Gravett.

Along with the readings of the stories, the library is also supplying crafts and activities for the children to take part in. Children, ages 3-7 that are accompanied by their parents are welcome to attend Curiosity Day. Everyone at Eastern and the Charleston community are also welcome and encouraged to attend.

The library’s story time events are geared towards the children but everyone in the Eastern community is welcome to take part in the fun events.

For additional information about the Ballenger Teachers Center Fall Storytime programming check out the Booth library’s Facebook or twitter page or the Library page on Eastern’s website.

Liz Gomez can be reached at 581-2812 or ecgomez@eiu.edu