The Sterling Conant Public Library kicked off their annual summer reading program on June 28, with a Jungle Jim magic and balloon show filled with entertainment geared towards kids and adults of all ages. The audience was delighted by the sleight of hand and balloon tricks, including the grand finale where Jungle Jim immersed himself inside a giant pink balloon.
The summer reading program, which has been running for over 20 years, began June 25. So far 246 children have signed up for the program and have logged well over 700 hours. This year’s theme is Libraries Rock. A large mural in the library’s Baker Room is music themed and kids get to add pieces to it at reading hour intervals.
“Summer reading is a great way to celebrate the fun of reading,” says Head of Youth Services Angela Cote. “Studies show that giving kids access to books over the summer helps avoid the ‘summer slide’ so they don’t lose important progress made in reading skills over the school year and are better prepared for the start of a new school year.”
Cote has organized library programming to correspond with summer reading including an Escape Room Challenge the week of July 16 and a Harry Potter Birthday Celebration with a Crafternoon and Scavenger Hunt on July 31.
“I love getting to see school aged kids more during the summer and helping them connect with great books,” she says.
Participating kids receive one raffle ticket per two hours of reading that they log. They can then put the tickets into a bag corresponding to a raffle prize, giving them a chance to win the prize at the end of the program, which Cote says is an incentive to keep kids engaged in the program.
There are dozens of prizes up for grabs, and the raffle is split into two groups – birth through grade 4, and grades 5 through 12. Some of the prizes available for the younger set include a giant slime kit, remote control car, and gift cards to Target and Five Below. Prizes for the older set include gift cards to Target, Amazon, Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic, Starbucks, and Barnes & Noble.
Adults are also welcome to participate in their own separate library summer reading program which begins on August 1 and will run through the month. Adults receive a raffle ticket each time they check out reading materials including books, audiobooks, or magazines.
Kids can register for the summer reading program through Saturday, July 28. The program officially ends on August 16 at 8 p.m., which is the last opportunity for kids to enter the raffle.
For more information, visit sterlinglibrary.org or call 978-422-6409.