Kids get creative at Redmond Library’s ‘Sound of Music’ costume contest

Published 3:29 pm Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Dressing up as “brown paper packages tied up with string” may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

But more than 30 people attended the Redmond Regional Library’s “Be Creative” themed-event on Monday, where children dressed up as characters — or objects — from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical “The Sound of Music,” for a costume contest.

Later, the children participated in a viewing of the film and sang along to Julie Andrews’ renditions of “My Favorite Things” and “Do-Re-Mi,” among others.

The Friends of the Redmond Library organization donated Sound of Music books and other prizes for the contest winners and Redmond’s own Bella Bottega theatre donated an enormous bag of popcorn for guests to enjoy during the movie.

The contest winners, Marta Rejtmar and her granddaughters Luciana, 4, and Florencia, 15 months, dressed up as Maria, Brigitta and Gretl.

“We thought the Sound of Music really tied in with the theme of being creative, and doing a costume contest, seeing what the kids could come up with… it was really some great creativity,” said Angela Nolet, Children’s Librarian at the Redmond branch. “It’s so important for us to reach out to the community… having things for the family to do at the library that are appropriate for their kids and free, that’s the most amazing part about the King County Library System.”

Nolet said she also hoped that these events help draw more families into the facility and get them hooked on reading.

“If (these programs) get people in the door that might not normally come, that’s a plus,” she noted. “Once they’re here we can try to get them out into the building to grab some books, and manage to tie it in there.”

For more information on the Redmond Regional Library and its programs, visit http://www.kcls.org/redmond.