Natalie Thompson, left, and Tawny Westbrook perform at the celebration hosted by the Sequatchie County Public Library.
FIND OUT MORE
For more information about the Imagination Library program, call the library at 423-949-2357 or visit www.governorsfoundation.org/enroll.
DUNLAP, Tenn. -- A high-energy girl group from Belmont University took the stage at the Dunlap Training Center last weekend to help encourage young children to read.
The Friends of the Sequatchie County Public Library asked the Groove Club to perform as part of Imagination Library Week.
The Saturday performance put on by two members of the Groove Club -- Tawny Westbrook and Natalie Thompson -- was tailored for library audiences. They sang familiar songs with a reading twist, including "I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night (and Read Every Day)."
The performance included interactive singing, dancing, hula hoops, magic tricks and games.
"We are a dynamic group that demands audience interaction," Westbrook said. "We want you to have fun. We won't stop until everyone is having fun."
Westbrook said it's important to encourage kids to read because it expands their imagination, vocabulary, thinking ability and creativity. She especially likes how the Imagination Library sends books to small children.
"It's an awesome program that encourages parents to spend time with their kids, and it makes it easy to say 'yes' to reading a book," she said.
Thompson said reading "broadens your horizons as a person."
Suzanne Spicer, chairwoman of the Friends of the Library, said she is pleased with the Imagination Library program.
"It is the best thing for children that has ever been devised," she said. "It teaches them about how they can use books and hopefully instills a love of books in them."
Corrina Sisk-Casson is based in Dunlap. Contact her at corrinacasson1@aol.com.