PHOTO GALLERY: Wee Ones offers activities for children at library

August 20, 2012 | 10:52 p.m. CDT

Parents and their infants gathered together to sing songs, dance and play during Wee Ones at the Columbia Public Library on Monday. Wee Ones, offered for young infants up to 24 months, is one of several activities offered at the library to help develop reading skills. "The idea is to be familiar with sounds and with books," Library Associate Barb Tucker said about Wee Ones activities. "It's all for getting ready for them to read on their own."

Kara Smith, background-left, Madelyn Smith, 9 months, Dan Smith, Andrea Calixto,, 3 months, and Frank Calixto dance as Barb Tucker, foreground, a library associate, sings along to the "salsa" song during Wee Ones at the Daniel Boone Regional Library on Monday. "The idea is to be familiar with sounds and with books," Tucker said about Wee Ones activities. "It's all for getting ready for them to read on their own." | Jaime Henry-White

Kara Smith sings "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to her 9-month-old daughter Madelyn Smith as her father, Dan Smith, helps his daughter do the song's hand motions during Wee Ones at the Daniel Boone Regional Library on Monday. "We bring her to interact with little kids," Dan said. | Jaime Henry-White

Parents and their infants play with a parachute as they sing along to songs during Wee Ones at the Columbia Public Library on Monday. Wee Ones is one of several activities offered at the library to young children to help develop reading skills. | Jaime Henry-White