Summer Reading Program Gets Underway

The kickoff for the summer reading program at the C.H. Booth Library recently took place on June 29 at Reed Intermediate School. From 9 am to noon that day, children and their parents were invited to sign up for the summer reading program as well as several special events and workshops that the library will offer to children over the summer. Registration for the summer reading program may still be done at the library. The program runs from June 29 to August 20, and is for children ages 4 through grade five.

During the hours of registration, which took place in the cafetorium at Reed, parents enrolled their children in programs, and were able to browse through hundreds of books and videos for sale at the annual children’s book sale. Crowds gathered around the enormous selection of reasonably priced children’s books. It offered a great opportunity to stock up for vacation reading.

At 10:30 the Marshmallow Masquers presented a live detective drama entitled The Mystery of the Fabulous Fossil Find to a crowd of attentive children and adults.

Like last year the library will be giving out incentives for children to continue reading during the summer months. Two giant dinosaurs, T-Rex and Stegasaurus, line the back wall of the children’s library. For every 15 books read, a child will earn a bone to put up on one of the colossal creatures. Some of the incentives to read are: receiving a slice of pizza from My Place, a donut from Dunkin’ Donuts, and a free book to those who finish the program by reading 20 books or 400 pages for those reading chapter books.

For children ages 6 and up there are craft workshops available at the library. The following workshops are available: sun visor, July 11; pillow, July 18; potpourri hats, July 25; lei bracelet, August 1; coin purse, August 8; shell frame, August 15; and octopus doll, August 22. All workshops are held at the library from 4 to 5 and registration is required.

PJ Story Time, which is a program of stories, songs, and puppet shows for children ages 3–7 and their parents begins at 6:30 pm on the following dates: July 13, Three Billy Goats Gruff; July 20, Goldilocks and the Three Bears; July 27, The Dog Who Forgot; August 3, Tops and Bottoms; August 10, Little Red Riding Hood; August 17 The Three Little Pigs. No registration is required.

Special summer science programs for ages 5 and up are as follows: Having Fun with Fossils and Dinosaurs, July 12; The Fossil Hunter, July 26; Science Genie Chemistry, Physics, and Weird Science, August 9. All programs take place from 4 to 5 and are on a first-come, first-served basis. The seating is limited to 75 people.

For students entering grades four through sixth there will be Nutmeg book discussions. Students are invited on the following days and times to discuss the nominees for this year’s Nutmeg competition. Once Upon A Marigold on July 13 from 4 to 5; Trial By Journal on July 27 from 4 to 5; Gregor The Overlander on September 28 from 6:30 to 7:30; The City Of Ember on October 26 from 6:30 to 7:30; Pictures of Hollis Woods on November 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 and Sahara Special on January 4 from 6:30 to 7:30.

Stop in the library for more information about any of the programs going on this summer. The librarians want to encourage reading by saying, “Don’t forget to keep a book with you at all times, you never know when you’re going to feel the need to read!”