May will be a wonderful time to visit St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries, and the fun starts early.

Children’s Book Week is held Monday (April 29) to May 5. Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of children’s books and reading. It was established in 1919, and is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.

The program is administered by Every Child a Reader and the Children’s Book Council, which is the anchor sponsor. Every Child a Reader is a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens across America, and is supported by individual donations, grants and foundations.

The organization creates and supports programs that strive to make reading and enjoyment of children’s books an essential part of America’s educational and social aims. To show support to the organization and celebrate Children’s Book Week, St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries will showcase a plethora of books throughout the week to highlight the “Read Now, Read Forever” slogan.

Programs will also be hosted throughout the week at the Norris J. Millet Sr. Library in LaPlace. Please contact your local branches for more information.

Mother’s Day will be celebrated May 12, and the library system will provide several programs leading up to Mom’s big day. The Norris J. Millet Sr. Library will have a “Mother’s Day Calendar” program at 5:30 p.m. May 7, when patrons are to bring photos they would like to use for the calendars on a flash drive.

Assistance will be given to help the patrons design their calendars. The class is limited to the first 10 people that sign-up. For more information, call JoAnn Proctor, branch supervisor, at 985-652-6857.

The Norris J. Millet Sr. Library will also host a “Mom and Me Storytime” at 10:30 a.m. May 9, when children and their parents are invited to listen to stories, songs, rhymes, finger plays and other activities. For more information, call Trina Smith, Children’s Librarian, at 985-652-6857.

The Frazee-Harris Memorial Library (Garyville) will host “Handmade Greeting Cards” at 4 p.m. May 9. Any doting mother, grandmother, step-mother or mother-figure will love receiving a nicely decorated, handmade greeting card created with love especially for her.

This program is for children, ages 6 and up. For more information, call Elmira Duhe, branch supervisor, at 985-535-6868.

Children, ages 6 and up, are invited to the Roland Borne Sr. Memorial Library (Edgard) for a “Mother’s Day Craft” at 4 p.m. May 10. Custom mason jars will be made using a variety of accessories and can serve as gifts to mothers.

The Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library (Reserve) will have a “Mother’s Day Make and Take” at 10 a.m. May 11, when children of all ages are invited to make craft stick signs that lists the outstanding qualities about mothers. For more information, call Rona Joseph, branch supervisor, at 985-536-4107.

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, the Frazee-Harris Memorial Library will host “Simply Paint” at 3:30 p.m. May 3. Tweens and teens will celebrate the history of Cinco de Mayo while painting a festive sombrero and completing a word search activity related to the celebration. For more information, call 985-535-6868.

May is also known as Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Regular physical activity is good for everyone’s health, and people of all ages and body types can be physically active.

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is a great time to spread the word about the benefits of getting active. The Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library offers a 30-minute walking class every Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Please come out and get active with the library.

May is also known as the Month of the Short Stories. Inspired by April’s “National Poetry Month,” May started to become identified with the short story, especially since 2013, when the first organized International Short Story Month began.

Short stories make the perfect introduction to a new author’s work, a great way for readers to get a top-up from their favorite authors between novels, and a perfect impulse purchase on a smartphone or e-reader.

Please visit St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries and peruse through some great short stories during.

For a full list of all programs, please refer to our online calendar on our website, Facebook (St. John the Baptist Parish Library) or pick up a newsletter at any of our four branches. I hope you all can attend some of the spectacular programs offered at St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries.

Kearston Poché is the administrative services coordinator for St. John the Baptist Parish Library. She can be reached at 985-652-6587.