Summer Reading Kickoff At The C.H. Booth Library

By Tanjua Damon

The blazing sun did not keep avid readers away Tuesday morning at the C.H. Booth Library as the “funniest magician on the planet,” George Franzen, presented his magic tricks to kick off the annual summer reading program.

The reading incentive program runs from June 26 through August 18 at the library. Children ages four through grade five can sign up for this year’s program, “Readers of the Round Table.”

Bruce Degen designed the posters, bookmarks, and reading record. Participants will receive incentives for every five books or every 50 pages that are read during the specified dates or a free slice of pizza from My Place, a free donut from Dunkin Donuts, a free helium balloon from Big Y, and a free paperback from the Friends of the Library for those who finish the program and read 20 books.

This year 25 student volunteers as well as library staff members will be available during library hours to talk about the books children have been reading.

“The idea is to read every day, whatever that means for your family,” Children’s Librarian Alana Meloni said. “We want to allow them to be encouraged to read and to keep reading. I think it’s important for parents to know that it is more than the act of reading, but also the understanding and comprehension of reading.”

Magician Franzen gave the children at the show another magic phrase to add to abracadabra and hocus-pocus, “Readers are leaders.” His magic show had a reading theme to it to kick off the library’s summer reading program. There was also a special book sale with children’s books for much of the morning.

Middle school students should not feel left out of the loop for what to do this summer. Middle School Madness should grasp their attention. This is another summer reading program for students in grade six and up. Newtown businesses have donated 30 prizes that can be won by participants.

Each time a participant reads 50 pages, they fill out a raffle form in the children’s library. No registration is needed. Just read and fill out a form each time you finish 50 pages.

All the prizes from My Place, Inn at Newtown, Mona Lisa, Pizza Palace, Bagelman, Donut Hut, Botsford Drive Inn, Leo’s, Big Y, Lexington Gardens, Newtown Florist, Natural Look, West Redding Hair Stylist, Ricci’s Salon, Sandy Hook Barber Shop, Nails, Edmond Town Hall, Toy Corner, Dick Blick, Radio Shack, and Drug Center will raffled off on August 18.

So check out the summer reading programs at the C.H. Booth Library or for more information call 426-3851.