NATCHEZ — The voices heard inside the Armstrong Library rarely rise above a whisper, except for Wednesday mornings.

Soft-spoken words are replaced by the 3- and 4-year-old preschoolers from First Presbyterian Church Playschool chanting “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” or crying out for “Pete the Cat.”

Upstairs, scattered on a blue carpet depicting the different letters of the alphabet, 13 preschoolers listen to Children Service’s Librarian Annette Moroney read “Clifford I love You.”

As Moroney turns each page, 3-year-old Reiley Richardson inches closer to get a better look at the big red dog.

“I enjoy the interaction I get to have with the children each week,” Moroney said. “Seeing them get excited about the stories and remembering the characters is exciting for me.”

Three-year-old Jailyn Gaines patiently sits on her knees waiting for Moroney to finish reading “Clifford I Love You.” She makes her request the moment the pop-up book is closed.

“Pete the Cat, Pete the Cat,” Jailyn calls out while bouncing up and down on the carpet.

Soon her neighbors join in, each wanting to see the blue cat who “never loses his cool.” “I always try to incorporate a ‘Pete the Cat’ book,” Moroney said. “The kids really enjoy the music that comes with the story.”

Singing along with the CD provides entertainment and teaches. Each time Pete the Cat loses a button, the song helps the readers count how many are left.

“Oh no! Another button popped off and rolled away,” the voice from the CD player exclaims. “How many buttons are left?”

Holding out her index and middle finger, 4-year-old Avah Everhart counts how many buttons remain on Pete the Cat’s favorite shirt. “They love going to Story Time,” First Presbyterian Playschool caregiver Armetric Day said. “And what they learn they take back home with them or try to teach the other children at daycare.”

Before the preschoolers form their single file line to walk back, they first have to go swim through a peanut butter river and Jell-O swamp to hunt for a bear with big green eyes.

“I see two big green eyes,” Moroney said, “and a fuzzy little tail.”

A smile spreads across Selah Blanley’s face as she prepares to run.

“It’s a bear!” Jailyn shouts as she and the other preschoolers frantically run in place to get away from the bear.

As the songs end, the library returns to its regular decibel level and, with one index finger pressed to their lips and the other waving goodbye to Moroney, the preschoolers quietly leave the library until the following Wednesday.