Volunteers are helping to give the Old Town Newhall Library a pop of color with what they are calling a “yarn bombing”.

Members of Forge Ahead Arts spent 13 hours Saturday installing yarn graffiti on the pillars outside of the library in an effort to inspire children to read more books.

Behind the idea of the “Once Upon a Yarn” display was Ann Mukherjee, art director.

“It kind of popped into my mind that we should try to interpret children’s books and to bring them to life,” Mukherjee said.

Some of the books on display in yarn-form were “Harry Potter”, “Charlotte’s Web” and “Alice in Wonderland”.

Mukherjee said that people from all over the country were able to participate in this temporary art installation, from buying the supplies to interpreting the books and creating a yarn art piece.

Stephanie O’Connor, executive director and co-founder of Forge Ahead Arts, said that yarn bombing is “taking the country by storm”.

“It’s fun, it’s colorful, it’s whimsical,” O’Connor said. “We did an earlier one on Main Street last March, and then the library approached us and thought that it would be fun to do one here for the literacy festival coming up this Saturday.”

The literacy festival is hosted by Old Town Newhall Library this year and will include performers, activities and books.

The event, which aims to promote reading and literacy, will be held Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“If even one child picks up a book that they never would have normally picked up and reads it, then it’s a success.”

The yarn art display will be in place until early December.