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Motherhood: Calling all bookworms! Summer reading programs underway
Summer time has arrived — albeit unofficially, as the actual first day is June 21.
Nonetheless, the kiddies are embarking upon a near three months of fun, freedom and yes, sometimes even boredom (gasp!).
So how do we fill those rainy or excruciatingly hot, humid days that limit outside play time? How about popping open a good book.
Moms and dads … that goes for us, too. There is nothing quite like a good book and a cool glass of lemonade on the shady front porch (or poolside, of course).
While school may be far from the minds of our little ones, keeping them actively involved in using their imagination and enjoying some quiet time is just as important.
A bookworm myself, I was thrilled when my sons found the public library to be a treasure trove, as well. In fact, last summer they were asking me weekly to take them there.
The Clark County Public Library, along with many public libraries, is again offering a summer reading program. The best part? It’s free. The program includes reading, art and music activities, films and an art contest that will be judged by the public.
This year’s national summer reading program theme for libraries — designed by the News-Sun’s former artist Dave Catrow — is “Be Creative at Your Library.”
“The kids get rewarded. They get credit and incentives, anything we can do to get them excited about reading,” said Allison Peck, public relations manager of the CCPL.
Peck said the summer reading program is also open to teens and adults. The goal is for each person to read at least 25 books in June and July.
Last year, 1,860 people participated in the summer reading program at the CCPL. Children read the most books with a systemwide total of 28,640. Adults and teens combined read 12,345 books — an increase of 20 percent over 2007.
Successful participants are eligible for prizes provided by Friends of the Library. The New Carlisle summer reading program also runs in June and July with incentives for participants. “(Participants) can read or be read to,” said librarian Maggie Boller of the New Carlisle public library summer reading program which also runs in June and July.
She refers to a 1978 Heyns study which showed the number of books read during the summer is consistently related to academic gains.
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