Kids have a “Dino-mite” time at the library

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press 

“How many of you like dinosaurs that eat meat?” asked George Blasing, better known as Dinosaur George, grinning as most of the members of the young audience raised their hands. “Well, I’ve got good news for you, the dinosaurs that like meat would have liked you too.”
Dinosaur George led a dinosaur-themed class as part of the Copperas Cove Public Library’s ongoing Summer Reading Program with shows at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Children laughed and had a great time as they learned about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. 
For example, the children learned that dinosaur eggs are not as big as many think and baby dinosaurs can be significantly smaller than their parents. Blasing also talked about a stegosaurus’s plates while showing off a fossilized plate. Many believe that the plates were used for defense; however, due to their thinness, it is now speculated that they were used for temperature regulation and that their spiked tails were used for defense.
“I thought it was a lot of fun,” said Brittany Roman who brought her son, Aaron Roman (3). “I think he presented it in a way that kept the kid’s attention.”
Blasing said that everyone goes through a dinosaur phase, but his never stopped. He has a passion for the prehistoric and wants to share it with as many people as he can. He hopes to be able to present a larger fossil collection to the city’s elementary schools once school is back in session.
Blasing said that many children, especially those in smaller cities, will never get the chance to see fossils in person. The fossils that he shows come from his own personal collection. The fossils shown Thursday represent a small portion of Blasing’s collection.
Blasing said that he hopes that after watching his program, the children are encouraged to check out books about dinosaurs. He said he hopes that they check out every book the library has about dinosaurs.
“Almost everything I know about dinosaurs I learned from reading books,” said Blasing. “I hope they remember that what I taught them I learned from books. Yes, movies are fun, and videogames are entertaining, but books are truly the best way to learn. If you read it, you retain it. My ultimate hope is that they went through the library and took every dinosaur book off the shelves.”
Judy Glick brought her sons Jonathan (11) and Timothy Glick (6) to watch the show.
“I loved it,” said Jonathan Glick. “I’d never seen dinosaur fossils before.”
“I learned before we even started because my mommy was reading to me,” said Timothy Glick.
“I really like it. It’s really motivating,” said Judy Glick about the Summer Reading Program. “We really appreciate the kids program and the library in general, and the staff. They’re very interested in the kids and very helpful.”
The Summer Reading Program continues today with a martial arts demonstration at 2 p.m. The library will be closed Wednesday in observance of Independence Day. The program will continue Thursday with presentations by the Austin Reptile Show at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.