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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Around 200 kids and their parents attended one of the Ottumwa Public Library’s Summer Reading Program special events Tuesday morning at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

And boy were the kids excited for the blow-up planetarium! 65 kids of all ages were let inside the dark and starry bubble at a time.

“And today we have from the Grout Museum, the Star Lab and she – Jessica -- is talking about different constellations and stars and the sun and she has a big blow-up dome that kids can go in and sit down. And she has a way of putting those up on the ceiling inside the dome and talks to the kids about them,” said Jenna Bates, Ottumwa Public Library Children’s Librarian.

This is the second year the summer program has used the Knights of Columbus Hall for their special kids’ events.

Bates said both the kids and parents look forward to the various free programs put on throughout the summer.

“We allow so much for -- you know -- what we can do in the summer and performances are you know are things we do like to budget for to kind of keep the kids -- give them something to do, something to look forward to, something that doesn't cost a lot of money, that they're welcome to come to with their family. So it's just a great opportunity for kids to get out and find something to do in the summer,” said Bates.

The Summer Reading Program lets kids expand their minds and have fun at the same time.