Celebrity Chef Whips Up New Booklovers at Menlo Park Library

The best way to a whet a child’s appetite for reading may be through his stomach.  That's exactly what the staff of the Menlo Park Library had in mind when they invited celebrity chef and author Joanne Weir to share her recipes and cooking techniques with young readers on Thursday, June 30, at 7:00 pm.

This year’s summer reading program, funded by Friends of the Menlo Park Library, has a global theme, and kids will be reading stories from around the world.  During Weir’s talk, entitled Around the World Cooking with Children, she will take young readers on a culinary journey, involve them in preparing ethnic dishes, and offer yummy taste tests.  Young attendees will get a “taste” of the culinary wisdom that has made Weir a celebrity chef on her own award-winning PBS TV cooking series. 

Kepler’s Books will also be on hand, selling Weir’s recently released Wine Country Cooking.  Adults and children, ages eight and up, are invited. 

“We are having these special programs because we want to be relevant and there for people,” said Michelle Burnham, head of youth services for the Menlo Park Library.  “Entertainers always recommend checking out books.  And children use self-checkout now, and want to linger at the library.”

Families of all stripes and cultural backgrounds are coming to the library and reading together, Burham says. “Reading should be a shared literary experience, with people coming together.”

New this year is a summer reading program for adults, formed at the request of parents whose kids are avid participants.  Adults have a chance to win a Kepler’s gift card if they submit an essay about visiting the Menlo Park library, or about their very first library experience.

The fledgling adult reading program has about 50 members so far.  Roughly 900 kids and teens participate in the summer programs, and those numbers are growing. 

“In the six years since I’ve been at the library, attendance in the summer programs and throughout the year has steadily increased, especially among children,” Burnham said.  “We’ve been working hard to bring people in; Friends of the Library has been improving collections.  Teaming with Kepler’s on author events has also helped to bring people in and check out books.”

Burnham and Friends of the Library are finding new ways to attract more teens.  This summer they’ve scheduled a poetry slam for Friday, July 29, featuring internationally-acclaimed poet, storyteller and Hawaiian slam legend Kealoha.  Respondents have been submitting the poems they’ll be performing at the Menlo Park Library.  The first place winner of the slam receives an iPod Nano. 

Teens can also join “A Book, a Movie and a Slice,” where they agree on a book that has a corresponding movie, then read the book and watch the movie version while enjoying a slice of pizza.  All those who complete books are eligible for grand prizes, including a Sony-Reader Daily Edition Digital Book, an iPod Nano, or a Filp UltraHD Camcorder. Winners will be announced at the Poetry Slam.

For more information about the children, teen and adult summer reading programs, and other special events hosted by the library, visit www.menloparklibrary.org.