DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne Public Library and Teen Advisory Board held their Fourth Annual “Fall into Reading Celebration” Saturday at the Daphne Recreation Center. Around 70 kids and parents attended the event.

Teen Board helped supervise activities that included drawing tables, face painting, a bag toss and prize-fishing games.

Bay Rivers Art Guild members displayed their work and a silent auction was held. The event included an art raffle drawing for vintage linen and bath accessory baskets.

Dorothy Stevens Johnson—or “D.K. the Clown”—made balloon animals for kids and delighted 4-year-old Cameron Walton, who immediately wanted to show his dad in the next room.

“He’s having a lot of fun,” his mom said. “He’s all over the place.”

Cookies and refreshments were also available at the event.

Amy LaPalme helped work a book-walk section, which was a game where kids received free books. Also mother to one attendee, she praised the event’s educational and entertaining formula.

“I think it’s very good because it’s fun for the Teen Advisory Board,” LaPalme said. “It’s also great for the kids because it’s nice to seem them get excited for books.”

That excitement also helps fuel library programs. According to Louise Youngblood, young adult librarian, the library raised around $1,500 at last year’s event and around 100 people attended. (Editor’s Note: Keep reading the Daphne Bulletin; we’ll have an update on how much money this year’s event raised.)

“It becomes a family affair because there is something for all ages,” Youngblood said.

For Youngblood, however, it’s about more than the money, as she strives to bring culture to the local children.

“From my point of view, I wanted the teens to see people do art first-hand, and I am trying to bring that experience of music or art close to them.”

(Staff video by Devin R. Golden; edited by Thomas Boni)