And last Friday morning, Julie (Lenahan) Cole, Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Bob and Eleanor Lenahan, Tonganoxie, brought a special guest to story hour. It was a life-size mouse who is a character in the children’s storybook by Laura Josse Numeroff, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.”

“My mother had mentioned that the library wouldn’t have a story hour,” Cole said. “That was sad to me because I have such a great love of books.”

She had been a lifelong reader, and since the birth of her daughter, Alexa, 22 months ago, Cole said she has become even more aware of the power of books.

“She loves books,” Cole said. “We read at least 10 books a day at her urging. It’s amazing to me the influence our reading has on her as an individual.”

She’d been thinking about ways to help introduce more children to books, Cole said, when her mother mentioned the need in Tonganoxie.

To find out how to run the story hours, Cole contacted an acquaintance who is community relations director at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on the Plaza.

“They’re partnering with us,” Cole said. “The cookie mouse was on loan from Barnes & Noble and we’re hoping to do more of those things, using resources from them.”

That means that for every Friday, beginning at 10 a.m., through this summer, Cole already has specific lesson plans in mind.

“Every week we’re going to have a different scene,” she said. “Story hours will include reading, character visits, other visitors, crafts and other resources, including treats, that go back to relate to the theme of the book.”

About 25 children attended the first story hour last week. And Cole is hoping for another crowd this week when “Dad and Me” is the theme for the day.

Children of all ages are welcome to attend the one-hour sessions, but Cole said the story times are geared to the 8-year-old and under crowd.

Cole, who owns Cafllegro at 1815 W. 39th St., Kansas City, Kan., with her husband, said she’s even thinking about continuing her work as volunteer director of the reading program after summer ends.

“I had such a great time last Friday,” she said. “It is wonderful for me to see things through the eyes of a child things that as adults we forget about. It opens up a whole new world.”