Library Set To Kick Off Summer Reading Programs

By Steve Bonanno

Summer has arrived and another academic year has come to an end, but that does not mean children in Newtown will stop reading books. C.H. Booth Library Children’s Librarian Alana Bennison has seen to that with the Summer Reading Program Kick-Off event scheduled for Tuesday, June 26.

The library’s Summer Reading Program encourages kids to read throughout the summer through events and prizes, Ms Bennison explained.

“We make reading fun for the kids by giving them prizes for reading books,” said Ms Bennison.

There is a wide range of prizes that participants can win for reading, many of which are donated by local vendors. Prizes include pizza from My Place Restaurant, doughnuts from Dunkin’ Donuts, toys from The Toy Tree, buy one get one coupons for mini golfing, movie tickets for Edmond Town Hall, tickets to Bridgeport’s Sound Tigers hockey games, and tickets for Danbury’s Westerners baseball games.

The upcoming kick-off event is the first day children, ages 4 and up, are able to register for the summer program. On Tuesday there will be a children’s book sale from 9:30 am until 5 pm, and magic shows at 11 am and 1 pm. The magician performing will be Debbie O’Carroll, who, over the past 35 years, has performed at schools, libraries, and festivals for elementary-aged children around the world.

When asked what she enjoys most about performing for children Ms O’Carroll said, “I love their reactions. It’s wonderful to be able to use magic to spark their imaginations.”

The Summer Reading Program runs from June 26 to August 18, which makes the upcoming kick off event the first of many events to look forward to this summer, said Ms Bennison.

On Monday: Cool Drinks And Cool Stories For Young Adults

Kickoff for the Teen Summer Reading Challenge for Newtown youth entering grades 6-12 will happen one day earlier, on Monday, June 25. From 2 to 4 pm young adults are invited to relax and beat the heat with a delicious custom-made fruit smoothie, then settle back and listen to acclaimed storyteller Jackson Gillman.

Mr Gillman, “The Stand-Up Chameleon,” magically transforms into a wide array of colorful characters. Song, dance, mime and/or sign language might be incorporated into his interactive storytelling. This program is made possible by the Friends of C.H. Booth Library.

Full details will be available that afternoon for the 2012 Teen Summer Reading Challenge, as well as the schedule of all summer programs for teens.  This year’s grand prize is an Amazon Kindle e-reader.

Registration for Monday’s program is requested, and can be done online.

DIRECT LINK: http://www.libraryinsight.net/EventSignUp.asp?t=699476097&jx=wcp&lmx=241159