<p>Entomolgist Don Ehlen shows children at Ocean Park Timberland Regional Library a tarantula duirng "Insect Safari," part of TRL's summer program. Ehlen also took his hundreds of bugs, big and small, to Ilwaco and Naselle TRL's.</p>

OCEAN PARK Even though I have all of these spiders in my collection, I have only touched one in my entire life, entomologist Don Ehlen said as he pointed to a mammoth tarantula. Ehlen answered a myriad of questions and patiently explained something about his collection of literally hundreds of insects. He was presenting Insect Safari to a group of about two dozen children and a like number of adults at Ocean Park Timberland Library (TRL) Wednesday, July 13.

He also took his bugs on tour to Ilwaco and Naselle TRLs as part of the librarys summer featured performances that are meant to encourage reading and learning while students are on vacation from school. The theme for TRLs summer program in 2011 is, One World, Many Stories and Ehlens insects are one of eight features to come to Ilwaco on Thursdays and Ocean Park and Naselle on Wednesdays.

Other programs include Games & Sports Around the World, Going Global Comedy, Harmonica Pockets Tall Tales, Heart and Soul of Mexico, Mary Shaver Marionettes, Tasty Tale of Brave Sir Bump, Magic Around the World and World Storytelling Safari.

TRL also has a family safari program for young and old to create African art, a scavenger hunt with prizes, guessing jars, movies, story time and Wacky Days. A free reading kit is also available upon request and students are encouraged to read while school is out. The annual ice cream party and egg hunt will cap off events July 27 at 11 a.m. in Ocean Park and Aug. 3 in Naselle at 2 p.m. Ilwaco TRLs last featured performance will be Brownsmead Flats Children Concert at 10:30 a.m., July 28.

All of the summer events are free and sponsored by Okies Select in Naselle and Okies Sentry Market and Jacks Country Store in Ocean Park, All Seasons Kidstuff in Chinook, and McDonalds, Coming Attractions Theatres, and Deals Only in Astoria. For more information go online or call your local Timberline Regional Library. Similar summer reading programs are in Raymond and South Bend.