Tucked away in a corner of the Castaic Public Library, about a dozen elementary school children sat with their legs dangling from chairs and learned how to draw a desert scene.

Jane Bates, a resource specialist for Castaic Elementary School, stood before an oversized pad of paper and guided the children as they transformed blank sheets of paper into a vast desert, complete with a cactus, woodpecker, jack rabbit and a goofy-looking rattlesnake.

The art lesson was inspired by a group reading of “There Was a Coyote Who” as part of the weekly Grand Reader program. It’s an effort by the Castaic Union School District and Castaic Public Library to get kids and their families to read together outside of school and explore the 1-year-old library’s resources.

“Kids need, and love, to be read to,” said Anita Langenbacher, coordinator of instructional technology and library media for Castaic Union School District.

The Grand Reader program began at the start of the year and has grown to include 20 to 30 families every Tuesday.

Each week brings a new book and themed activities for Castaic youngsters and their families. Castaic Union teachers and administrators volunteer their time to lead lessons and promote literacy in the community.

“It makes a space for the community to interact,” youth services librarian Kelly Behle said.

Every week, Behle creates displays of books based on the week’s theme to encourage families to take books home.

Michelle Moyer brought her third-grade daughter Jillian to Grand Reader for the third time. Moyer called the evening program the most enriching way to spend her daughter’s free time.

She said: “I hope she learns the library always has something to offer.”