The Western Pocono Community Library was roaring with activities for children eight and younger, who came with their family Thursday evening for various crafts to celebrate Read Across America Week.

“We are doing a jungle theme to show we are wild about reading,” said Jessie Flickner, the library’s director of youth services.

There were various stations for the children to rotate, including a coloring sheet to find jungle items, animal masks to decorate with sticker facial features and animals to paint.

“Our favorite books are Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, a dinosaur encyclopedia, and Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons,” said five-year-old Xavier MeliPaul, as he showed the rhinoceros and giraffe that he and his younger brother, 4-year-old Oliver MeliPaul, painted.

The boys like to have their mother, Sabrina MeliPaul, read to them at bedtime.

About 20 children rotated through the stations during the hourlong event. There was a table of library books in the back of the community room to look through. Some went out to the children’s area to select books from the shelves to borrow from the library.

“We’re always celebrating books in the library,” said Flickner. “This week, we focus on a love of reading.”

Read Across America Week, which began on Sunday, was created by the National Education Association and is a time to promote reading and literacy. Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2, which is Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

Flickner said the kids learn much about Dr. Seuss during that week and do various activities in school, like making and coloring Cat in the Hat hats, wearing crazy or mismatched socks, and reading Green Eggs and Ham.

“We wanted to do something different. Kids like themes. We thought the jungle would be fun,” she said.

The MeliPaul brothers could not wait to go home and show their painted animals and masks to others. Other kids smiled and posed with their creations, as a parent snapped their photo.