Librarian Teaches Kids the Write Stuff

Vicki Oatis will do anything to get your kids to read – even dance around like a crazy household appliance. “That was an embarrassing moment,” says Oatis, Children’s Librarian at the Norwalk Public Library, of the evening her musical storytime session required wiggling to “The Washing Machine” song for a group of indifferent toddlers and their bemused parents. Luckily for Oatis, there’s no dancing involved in the Writers Club she runs for 3rd to 7th graders. The librarian - whose favorite book is E.L. Konigsburg's "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" – teaches members the basics of everything from mystery writing to character to development; last year, members created a library-wide newsletter featuring children’s book reviews and an interview with the NPL director. The Club brings Oatis, an art major from Ohio State University who now lives in Norwalk with her husband and 18-month-old son, right back to her own childhood, she says: "I was that kid whose parents would have to tell her to put her book away at dinner," she says. Every other month kids can enter a writing contest, with winners voted on by Children’s Room staff. Past themes have included “Fables” and “Mystery at the Library;” the next contest, to be held in April, will be all about “Poetry.” Drop into the library to pick up a submission form or download one from the website. This month's meeting is on Wednesday, the 31st from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m.; 203-899-2780, ext. 131, Main Branch, 1 Belden Ave., www.norwalklib.org.

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