CHESAPEAKE - Where can pre-schoolers read, sing, dance, make something fun and prepare for school at the same time?

At the library, that's where!

Youth can experience all these things and more during &#8220Storytime” at the Briggs Lawrence County Public Library.

Not only do organizers design it to be a fun experience for pre-schoolers, but they hope it is an educational one as well, said Brenda Heffner, library assistant for children's services.

&#8220The purpose of ‘Storytime' is to prepare the children for kindergarten,” Heffner said. &#8220It is also a good opportunity to introduce the children to books and reading.”

Heffner said they teach the children certain skills such as sitting and listening, movement, rhyming and singing. &#8220Storytime” is recommended for children from 3 to 5 and is free to the public.

Four-year-old Raegan Holley of Chesapeake has been coming to &#8220Storytime” for a couple of years and said she loves it.

Her favorite part is just reading the books, and although Dora the Explorer and Barney books are her favorite, Holley said she likes many others as well.

&#8220She likes them all, really,” Dorothy Falk, Raegan's grandmother, said.

When the youth arrive at &#8220Storytime,” they read some books and then they all sing songs.

On Tuesday, they sang &#8220Itsy Bitsy Spider,” which Holley said she enjoyed as she sang out loud and did the motions. After songs, it is on with the music and over to the craft table for some hands-on fun. This week's topic was clothing, where they learned and read about all sorts of garments and outfits.

The library will have a special &#8220Storytime” next week in honor of the upcoming Christmas holiday. Along with the stories and crafts, games and a special Christmas treat will be featured.

Holley said she is ready for Santa Claus and the snow and cannot wait to come see him at the library so she can tell him she wants a Dora the Explorer Kitchen and shirts for Christmas.

&#8220I like shirts,” she said with a smile as she twirled her pink, Hello Kitty purse around her arm.

The all-ages program, A Baker's Dozen - with a special guest from the North Pole - will arrive at

6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Southern Branch, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the library's Chesapeake Branch,

and at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Eastern Branch.

As she and her grandmother pack up to leave, Holley said she is already looking forward to next week's &#8220Storytime.”

While she picks a few movies out to last her through the week, Falk waits patiently by the door.

&#8220She loves it; she dearly loves it,” Falk said.