Starting Small

To help kick off La Jolla Riford Library’s Summer Reading Program — Read for the Win!, which runs through Aug. 15, youth services librarian Angie Stava hosted a scientific Shrinky Dinks workshop, June 21. Children of all ages gathered to color on special plastic sheets, and cut out their designs so Stava could (carefully!) put them in a toaster for about a minute. Fascinated, the young scientists watched the plastic contort and eventually shrink, before taking their creations home. Find a full lineup of free reading program events at lajollalibrary.org/events

— Ashley Mackin

Arielle Brotman holds her lightning bolt Shrinky Dink before it goes in the toaster ...

(Ashley Mackin)

... and after!

(Ashley Mackin)

... and finish small!

(Ashley Mackin)

Young patrons watch their creations shrink within a minute.

(Ashley Mackin)

Youth services librarian Angie Stava shows her guests how the Shrinky Dinks process works.

(Ashley Mackin)