Steep Falls Public Library is hosting a series of guest speakers this summer with a slant on animal care on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. in conjunction with the Summer Reading Program “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales.”

The first in the summer series was David Sparks of Sparks Ark on June 28. He spoke to an audience of more than 100 people from babies on up to the elderly. Sparks shared eight animals and birds with the avid animal lovers in the audience, including an opossum, skunk, chinchilla, bat, snake, great horned owl, cockatiel and a flying squirrel.

When asked what his favorite part of the presentation 7-year-old Ryan Moody emphatically replied “The great horned owl!”

Pet lovers of all kinds are invited to join “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales” at the Steep Falls Public Library. The 2006 Summer Reading Program is open to young people, preschool through young adult, with programs, prize drawings, story hours, guest speakers and more.

The remaining programs include:

July 19: Nature Walk & Barbecue with Brett Levin, local bug and fish expert. Meet at Steep Falls Library at 10 a.m.

July 26: Pet Parade at 10 a.m., with prizes for cutest costume, look like your pet and best behaved pet.

Aug. 2: Paradise Kennels, presentation on caring for your animals at 10 a.m.

Aug. 9: Story Hour & Craft at 10 a.m.

Aug. 16: Summer Reading Program Party and Grand Prize Give Away 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, call the library at 675-3132 or visit the Web site at www.steepfallslibrary.org. The library welcomes children of all abilities. All programs are free of charge.