That's A Story-able

children’s boutique features topical summer storytimes

Tom Giffey

 A storytime with Dean Roth of the Chippewa Off Road Bike Association.
A storytime with Dean Roth of the Chippewa Off Road Bike Association.

Well, story time just got even cooler. Beginning this summer, That’s Adorable! Children’s Boutique in downtown Eau Claire is bringing in special guests (including some local celebs!) to read to kids and their grown-ups each week. For the past year, the consignment store has held 1:30pm story times each Friday, with owner Beth Schwartz typically handling book-reading duties. Schwartz has invited a few guest readers in recent months – including Eau Claire City Councilwoman Catherine Emmanuelle and children’s book authors Katie McKy and Monica Holtz – and those events went so well she decided to fill the summer schedule with guest readers, each of whom will entertain kids with topical books and activities. The series kicked off June 14 with Dean Roth of the Chippewa Off Road Bike Association, who read cycling-themed books and showed kids how to adjust their own bikes. Future readers include Chester Gustavson of AKF Martial Arts, who’s expected to take the kids outside for some martial arts games on June 21; dentist Leslie Spangler on June 28 (expect some toothsome reads); while postman Corey Grotte will put his stamp on the series on Aug. 30.  (In the fall, the guest readings will be held monthly, and featured readers will include Matt Selvig – aka the Gordy’s Guru ­– and Sarah Stokes of WEAU-TV.) In addition to the story times, That’s Adorable! is holding a series of educational events two Saturdays a month all summer. Next up in that series is Traffic Light Eating at 10am on June 22, during which Dr. Laura Bertram of Gateway Chiropractic Center will teach kids about making choices between “green light” (healthy) and “red light” (unhealthy) foods. Schwartz set up the class after a school visit by Bertram impacted Schwartz’s own kids: “If I go to put a candy bar in my mouth, they go, ‘Mom that’s a red light food!’ ” The slate of events at Just Adorable! is sure to give the green light to free (and educational) fun this summer.

Storytime at That’s Adorable! Children’s Boutique • 1:30pm each Friday • 129 N. Barstow St. • FREE • 715-864-0883 • for full details search for That’s Adorable! on facebook.com • For kids (and even parents) of a certain age, story time holds an exalted place in the childhood pantheon next to nap time, snack time, and play time.