Pirates visit the China Village library to celebrate summer reading

Pirates interact with local children at the ACB Library, in China Village. (contributed photos)

by Carla Gade

It was a quiet Monday morning, June 26 it was, when a pair of pirates descended on the China Village Library. Children and their parents and grandparents gathered to see if rumor was true, or was it mere hearsay? Would pirates really come to the village? By way of China Lake? Rumor had it that their ship was hidden in a cove somewhere, but to what end? In haste they ap­peared like an apparition before the group of young Bookaneers. Of those present, some donned pirate attire suitable for the occasion. Even the Librarians were costumed. One took her stance with books and a writing quill, armed with knowledge, you see.

(contributed photos)

Alas, it became known that Captain Scruffhook O’Tinkle and Miss Ruby Kidd had come bearing peaceful tidings. In fact, they had come to entertain! Captain O’Tinkle, Tink for short, regaled the crowd with true-ish stories of fabled pirates, Sam Bellamy, Black Beard, young John King, and the notorious female pirate, Zheng Yi Sao. Ruby Kidd delighted them all with stories from the book of Piratology. She also proved to be a master teller of riddles which the youngsters were quick as a whip to answer. The young Bookaneers each received a unique pirate name, learned of pirate ways (true and myth), handled a genuine compass and a leather treasure map. The generous pirates shared plentiful pirate booty from their treasure chest with all!

The pirates, O’Tinkle, aka Shana Tinkle, and Ruby Kidd, aka Annabelle Lisa, are pirate reenactors who came courtesy of Back and Forth Tours, of Belfast. Dressed in full pirate regalia, they enthralled the library visitors to help launch the library’s Family Summer Reading Adventure upon the frigate S.S. A.C. Brown. Children and youth ages 4 – 17 and/or family members interested in embarking on the reading adventure can join any time through the end of July.

The program runs through August 19 and prizes will be awarded at a pirate rendezvous at the end of August. This year, in addition to ice cream from The Landing, the Masonic Dirigo Lodge will provide “Bikes for Books” to several participants as a reward for their reading efforts. A treasure map of reading suggestions, activities, and a log to track the reader’s adventures. All family members are encouraged to participate. The idea is to make reading fun and to keep reading throughout the summer. Children of all age groups receive a pirate coin, prizes, and a raffle ticket for the bike drawing. The adult raffle prize is a coupon for bookstore. Participants should have a library card and new patrons are welcome to join.

During the summer, an inhouse treasure hunt will be an ongoing activity for all visitors who would like to participate. The China Village Library (ACBM Library) is located at 37 Main Street in China Village, ME. Facebook @chinalibrary, website: chinalibrary.org, email: chinalibraryacb@gmail.com.