The Smithfield Library hosted one of its Book Bunch gatherings with a creative theme titled "Eat like a Bird." This hourlong program was conducted by Karen Lucrezi.

The Smithfield Library hosted one of its Book Bunch gatherings with a creative theme titled "Eat like a Bird." This hourlong program was conducted by Karen Lucrezi.

Lucrezi began by reading a book with pictures about various kinds of birds from around the world and a second book about the beaks and the way they eat.

After showing them the various styles of beaks found in the avian kingdom, the children were given a taste of such a mode of eating through a game in which they were supposed to use their own "beaks" of forks, spoons, tongs and clothespins to gather "food" of wooden balls, paper balls, paperclips, rubber band, glass stones, pennies and white beans and carry it to a bowl much as a bird would do.

The children were constantly reminded that they were supposed to used only one hand with their "beaks." After a couple of minutes, they were asked to choose a different kind of "beak" for the exercise. "I am happy that we get to have food in one place and don't have to move around like the birds," said Mckenna von Gleich, obviously noting the difficulty in finding food by the birds. "I love this activity," said Elisa von Gleich, who had gathered plenty of "food" in the bowl.

After the "food" scattered on the floor was gathered, the children were asked to count the total number of objects that they gathered. All of the children agreed that the tongs were the easiest to pick the food. Lucrezi interjected more information on food habits of birds and also asked the children to think about other animals that use different parts of the body for foraging.

"This program is a wonderful thing for enrichment," said Alex von Gleich; she brings her children, who are homeschooled, to every Book Bunch program. "It helps them build a portfolio that is necessary in Pennsylvania which stresses more exposure and activity for the children."

The children were then handed out wild bird food recipes, sponsored by the National Bird Feeding Society.

Finally, the children were treated to gummy bears and candies, but on the condition they first be gathered into a bowl with chopsticks. "It's slippery and looks like grub," said Elise von Gleich as she tried hard to gather more into her bowl. The children took home whatever they gathered and got a good sense of the daily living habits of their neighbors in the wild.

The Book Bunch gathers every month in the Smithfields branch and other branches of the Eastern Monroe Public Library on various schedules. Preregistration is required.
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