Peter the Rabbit visits Inklings Bookshop April 6

Now that spring is here, Inklings Bookshop wants to celebrate the season by bringing in a very famous storybook character.

Peter Rabbit, along with his famous cotton-tail, will make an appearance at the bookstore Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m. The Beatrix Potter character will hang around for a special story time session and photo op.

Inklings Bookshop, 5629 Summitview Ave., Yakima. Call 509-965-5830 or visit inklingsbookshop.com for more details.

‘Splat the Cat’ program coming to Yakima Valley Libraries in April

He rhymes with bat. He doesn’t usually wear a hat, and – oh! – we could go on about that.  It’s Splat the Cat!  And Yakima Valley Libraries around the valley will host programs based on the character.

Made famous in Rob Scotton’s “Splat the Cat” books, the cuddly feline is the focus of “Pat Splat the Cat” programs offered this April. Activities include stories, rhymes, crafts, songs and games.

Here’s the schedule for YVL’s “Pat Splat the Cat” offerings:

• April 19 at 10:30 a.m.: Sunnyside Library, 621 Grant, Sunnyside; 509-837-3234.
• April 22 at 11 a.m.: Moxee Library, 255 W. Seattle, Moxee; 509-575-8854.
• April 23 at 10:30 a.m.: Yakima Central Library, 102 N. Third St., Yakima; 509-452-8541.
• April 23 at 3:30 p.m.: Naches Library, 303 Naches Ave., Naches; 509-653-2005.
• April 24 at 10:30 a.m.: West Valley Library, 223 S. 72nd Ave., Yakima; 509-966-7070.
• April 24 at 1:30 p.m.: Selah Library, 106 S. Second St., Selah; 509-698-7345.
• April 25 at 10:30 a.m.: Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Drive, Yakima; 509-457-5319.
• April 25 at 3 p.m.: Granger Library, 508 Sunnyside Ave., Granger; 509-854-1446.
• April 26 at 10:30 a.m.: Toppenish Library, 1 S. Elm, Toppenish; 509-865-3600.
• April 26 at 4 p.m.: Wapato Library, 119 E. Third St., Wapato; 509-877-2882.

Story Times

Quite a few local bookstores and libraries host regular story times for children. The free events are a great way to introduce children to books and reading. Oftentimes the event features a craft, songs or other interactive activities. In the summer, Yakima Valley Libraries host a summer reading program with rewards for children who pledge to read over the summer.

ATTENTION!!! Please call to verify the schedule. We try to stay current, but gosh it’s hard…

BORDERS STORY TIME. Borders Books hosts story time at 11 a.m. Saturdays. Located at 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap; 248-4018.

IMAGINATION LIBRARY STORY HOUR. Circle of Success, an early education program, offers a story hour for children up to age 5 the second Wednesday of each month. At 10 a.m., the program is in English, followed by Spanish at noon. This program meets at the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima; 509-965-7100 ext.1019.

INKLINGS TODDLER STORY TIME. Inklings Bookshop hosts a toddler story time at 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Located in the Chalet Place shopping center, 5629 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 965-5830. (NOTE: For an extended excursion, break next door at Starbucks before crossing the parking lot to the Summitview Library, which typically holds a preschool story time at 11 a.m. Tuesdays.)

OUT ON A WHIM. Out On A Whim Children’s Bookstore and Imagination Station offers story time at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Located at 108 S. Third Ave., Yakima. 576-3635.

YAKIMA VALLEY LIBRARIES
Moxee Library, 255 W. Seattle, Moxee; 575-8854. Preschool story hour and craft, 10 a.m. Wednesdays.

Selah Library, 115 W. Naches Ave., Selah; 698-7345. Baby Lapsit, 10 a.m. Wednesdays. Preschool story time and craft, 10 a.m. Thursdays.

Summitview Library, 5709 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 966-7070. Preschool story time, 11 a.m. Tuesdays.

Sunnyside Library, 621 Grant, Sunnyside; 837-3234. Preschool story time, 10 a.m. Fridays.

Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Drive, Yakima; 457-5319. Preschool Story Time, 10:15 a.m. Thursdays.

Union Gap Library, 3104 S. First St., Union Gap; 452-4252. Preschool story time and craft, 10 a.m. first Tuesdays.

Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St., Yakima; 452-8541. Baby lapsit, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Preschool story time, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays.