Pig out, dog in at reading

When your potbellied co-host for Storytime Hour at the library cancels at the last minute, you’d better be able to come up with an entertaining alternative in a hurry.

That’s what Councilman Steve Rosansky did for the tough crowd of toddlers waiting to meet the pig they’d been promised.

Enter Hagrid, the “gentle giant” of a Bernese mountain dog owned by Newport Beach Police Animal Control Officer Jamie Rogers, Rosansky’s friend and co-host on the local “Pick-A-Pet” public access television show hosted by the Newport Beach Animal Shelter.

It’s National Library Week, and Rosansky was participating for the second year in “Storytimes with Local Leaders” at the Newport Beach Central Library.

The pig books he was scheduled to read were replaced with dog books, and before the “surprise guest” made his appearance, Rosansky chose to warm up the crowd of about 25 kids aged 2 to 4 with “Where’s Spot?,” an interactive children’s book featuring a mother dog searching for her lost puppy and discovering other animals all over the house instead.

On each page, a door needs to be opened to see whether Spot is hiding in there. Rosansky said he chose that book so he could get the kids involved.

“Reading is very important, and I like the interactive books because they reinforce the message and make reading fun,” he said.

With plenty of little hands available to help each time he turned a page, Rosansky encouraged the kids to come forward, asked their names and engaged them in conversation.

The interaction with his young charges prompted the former mayor to remark, “Boy, I have lots of helpers. I don’t get this much help from the City Council.”

Rosansky read one more book before Rogers arrived with Hagrid, the 1-year-old black-and-brown dog described by its owner as a “big, giant teddy bear.”

Rogers explained that the Bernese, with a naturally gentle temperament, is the perfect dog to be around children. The breed is known for pulling small carts or wagons, a task they originally performed in Switzerland, and one that Hagrid performs especially well.

“We’ve taught him to pull a Red Flyer wagon, and when we’re out in public with him, he’s a show-stopper,” she said. Rogers had wanted a show dog since she was a child, and even at his young age, Hagrid has already been winning medals at dog shows across the country.

The dog rolled over on his back so the kids could pet him, and once he got up, he stood taller than Milan Barker, 3, who shrieked and giggled when Hagrid’s tail swished her on the arm as he walked by.

Blue eyes opened wide, Milan shared her thoughts.

“I liked the dog so much, he was so soft, but I want a real kitty who I can hold,” she said.

The blond-haired, blue-eyed girl standing next to Milan echoed her sentiments. That was sister Alexis, 4, although Milan didn’t seem too eager to lay claim to their shared lineage.

She finally decided to admit it really was her sister when Alexis chimed in that between the two of them, maybe they could have two kitties and a dog at home.

While the dog’s appearance was a fun bonus for the kids, Rosansky’s appearance and that of other community leaders at various library events this week was the focus of the event.

Katherine Mielke, the library’s marketing specialist, said the crowd at Wednesday’s Storytime hour was larger than normal, and it was the same at Monday night’s Pajama Storytime reading with City Manager Homer Bludau.

“It’s good for the community to see that the City Council is interested in the Library’s programs, and that they are involved in reinforcing the importance of reading for kids,” Mielke said.

Logan Vasterling, 4, lives in Corona del Mar and said he reads at home all the time.

“One day I came to the library and me and my Grandma got 18 books,” Logan said, and he’s still working on reading all the ones in the stack. No dog books for him, though.

“I really like books about bats. They fly around and hang and sleep upside down, and they live in caves,” Logan said.

Now there’s an idea for next year.

Activities celebrating National Library Week will continue at branches throughout Newport Beach and Costa Mesa through Saturday.

IF YOU GO

As part of its Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series, the Newport Beach Central Library will welcome Washington Post journalist and author Robin Wright at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Wright will discuss her latest book, “Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East,” and participate in a question-and-answer session and sign books. A wine reception will take place Friday evening. Tickets are $50 Friday and $30 Saturday. For more information, call (949) 548-2411 or go to www.nbplfoundation.org.

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at [email protected].