SHEFFIELD — Sometimes all it takes is a bear to get kids excited about reading.

Blades, the Boston Bruins' bear mascot, earned smiles and laughs Wednesday as he acted his way through a reading of "Hockey in the Wild" for about 15 children gathered in the gazebo at Bushnell-Sage Library.

About 150 libraries across Massachusetts applied to host a Blades story time through the "When You Read, You Score" program, but fewer than 15 were selected.

After story time with Bruins mascot Blades at Sheffield Library, kids participated in Bruins trivia to win sunglasses.

The day was extra special for Averi Gilligan, a Bruins fan and hockey player who was celebrating her ninth birthday alongside her Berkshire Rattlers teammates.

"It was cool," she said, because she got to celebrate with friends who were "as excited as I am."

Her favorite moment came when Blades pretended to bite her while posing for a birthday photo, she said, giggling while recalling the moment.

Averi's mom, Bobbie Jo Gilligan, said she was so happy the event happened on her daughter's birthday and that all the kids had so much fun.

After storytime with Bruins mascot Blades, participants stayed outside for arts and crafts.

"We were all pretty shocked that they picked our little town," she said. "All these kids like to read, so this got us back to the library and what a great day. What a great program they brought here."

After story time, the children, evenly split between boys and girls, lined up for photos and autographs before making bracelets, coloring goalie masks and bookmarks, crafting fan buttons and hanging out with Blade's team.

A child shows off the Bruins button she picked out at storytime with Blades on Wednesday at Sheffield Library.

While coloring a goalie mask, 5-year-old Callie Andrews said her favorite parts were getting picked up for a high-five and sharing several bear hugs with Blades.

Of the handful of kids asked by The Eagle if Blades telling them to read makes them want to read more, the answers were split between "yes" and "maybe" — but no one said "no."

"We will take a maybe," Library Director Deena Caswell said. "We can work with that."

Caswell said the goal is to connect reading with the things children already love.

"Whether we get one kid or 50 kids, we're still putting on a program and we know that these kids will remember today for a long time, and I think that's really special," Caswell said.

Despite the heat, kids were decked out in hockey jerseys — some in Bruins black and gold and others in local team colors. After a rainy few days, Caswell said they really lucked out with the weather.

"To see all of the families that come out, like from the tiniest babies to grandparents, like everybody is out, they had such a fantastic time," she said. "This has just made like the start to our summer reading so special."

Since the program began in 2009, this is the second time Blades has visited Bushnell-Sage Library, said Celeste Bruno, communications director for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Hockey player and Bruins fan Averi Gilligan celebrated her ninth birthday at a reading event with Blades on Wednesday at the Sheffield Library.

"We were out here a few years ago and it was one of the best visits we've ever had," Bruno said. "When they put in an application this year. It was amazing, and we were all super excited to come back out again. We love it here. Love this library, love the staff, the families, it's all fantastic."

This is the furthest trip Blades and crew are making this summer and their only Berkshire County stop. But the long drive is worth it to the team when families are this engaged, Bruno said.

"At the end of the day, it's about the kids getting excited about coming to the library and reading, and clearly they love this library and they love this library staff," she said.

Before heading back to Boston, Blades left one last gift: a signed copy of "Hockey in the Wild," written and illustrated by Nicholas Oldland, for the library's collection.