Children spent their morning and afternoon at the Wareham Free Library, dancing, painting, and of course, eating!

The Library's Readin' and Rockin' Dance Party took place Thursday afternoon inside and behind the building. DJ Gazelle from the Fun 107 radio station pumped the beats while children and their parents threw frisbees, danced in hula hoops, played bean bag games and enjoyed their time outside.

It began with gardening at 10 a.m. followed by "Music with Mar." Each week, the children focus on one book and this week's theme was “The Hungry Caterpillar.”

With the gypsy moth infestation in the library's backyard, it was a natural coincidence.

“It's a perfect week to do bugs,” said Marsha Hickey, program director. “The little ones really understand the caterpillars now.”

Local artist and painter Kendra D'Angora holds painting sessions with the kids every week. She paints the book cover of the “book of the week” on a tarp, and the children get to add to it. These tarps become picnic blankets that the library will use for the rest of the year.

The kids practiced painting caterpillars and butterflies as moths flew around them in the library's backyard. The children also enjoyed a lunch of either a bologna sandwich or a ham and cheese sandwich with chocolate milk and applesauce.

Melissa Avilla handed out the lunches and she will be behind the library from Monday to Friday between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. handing out free lunches to kids if they need it. She said the menu is as follows: chicken patties on Mondays, ham and cheese or bologna and cheese sandwiches on Tuesdays and Thursdays, cheeseburgers on Wednesdays, and hot dogs on Fridays.

The lunches include chocolate milk and one kind of fruit.

The meal program is part of The Wareham Public Schools Food Service Program, which announced grant funding on Wednesday night, and it will continue until the Aug. 19.

Though the program has been running since June 20 this summer, the kick off wasn't until today.

Food Service Director Robert Sheehan said he was pleased to see the kids running and enjoying themselves during the event.