DAPHNE, Ala. — Sun rays beamed from the sky and whiffs of popcorn and lemonade filled the air as children and parents gathered at the Daphne Public Library complex during Saturday’s Spring Into Reading celebration.

Children donned temporary tattoos and Indian-headdress crafts while marching in the cake walk or fishing for prizes; they bounced in inflatable toys, danced to silly sing-a-longs and marveled at balloon animals.

“The vendors donate their time for this festival and we’re so lucky to have them,” Tonja Young, library director, said.

Dogs and cats visited from animal shelters—children petted the soft fur of canines from Daphne’s shelter, just like those the Daphne Bulletin features in its Wednesday “Lost Without You” feature. (See Page xxx for this week’s featured animal.) 

Steve Burgess twisted balloons into swords and dogs and Sheila Booth-Alberstadt showcased her children’s book, “Maggie McNair Has Spiders in Her Hair.” The Norrises from Fun With Music played songs and police Sgt. Robin Snider, “Fire Fighter Tom” (Tom Bertagnolli Sr.) and Eric Byrne, a firefighter recruit, displayed emergency vehicles.

Kristina Capp smiled as her son, Eddie, 5, tossed bean bags into holes in a plank and searched through small toys to find a prize.

“I didn’t know they’d have so much here for the kids,” she said.

Linda Smith donned a historic costume and spun yarn out of Marino sheep’s wool on her spinning wheel; she has performed the forgotten art for 20 years, she said. She also brought her mascot, a 7-year-old sun conure bird named Sunny.

Reece Springs, 6, spent time with Sunny during the festival and was allowed to hold the bird on his finger.

Karen Kyzar managed book sales for Friends of the Library; she began setting up books at 6 a.m. and would return the unsold ones to storage after the celebration, she said.

A poetry awards ceremony began at 1 p.m. where young writers read their award-winning poems and received awards from Mayor Fred Small.

Poetry contest winners

Overall

Kindergarten to fifth grade

Sixth grade

Seventh to eighth grade

10th to 12th grade