Library Offers Summer Reading Programs For Children

The is giving children the chance to get out of the heat and jump into a good book this summer with its seasonal reading program.

The children's summer reading program is titled "Dream Big Read" and is part of the national event to encourage early literacy. Children who read five books get a drawstring backpack, 10 books a free book and 15 books lands you food coupons. Prizes will only be awarded while supplies last.

“I am trying to provide something for everyone,” said Children's Librarian Catherine Potter about the summer programs for children.

A new program being offer this year for preschool-age children is called "Read to your Bunny." The program is being offered in two sections with one for children up to 24 months old and other is for children two to five years old. 

Once signed up, the parents are given a calendar with an activity that they can do with their children each day to promote early literacy. Parents are finishing up the activities for the month of June and the program runs through the month of August.

After a child completes 20 activities, they will receive a prize to further encourage parents and children to participate in the program, Potter said. 

"The preschool program gives them something to do before the summer programs start," she said about the program she created. She added that registration has been "high" for the program.

The are taking their books and going outside. Participants are asked to bring a beach towel. The program, which is for children from ages of kindergarten to eighth, will meet on Wednesdays starting June 27 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Children in grades fourth to eighth read to children in grades kindergarten to third. 

The following activities are being offered this summer for younger children:

• Museum of Connecticut History presents Connecticut Invents on June 26 at 11 a.m. - Program will discuss inventions invented in Connecticut
• Grandmothers Dreamcatcher on July 3 from 10:30 a.m. to noon  - Children over the age of five will listen to story and make dreamcatchers.
• Howl at the Moon with a Wild Thing Tune Concert on July 10 at 2 p.m. - Musician Tom Sieling will perform.
• Out of the World on July 17 from 10:30 a.m. to noon - Hear a story and make a model of the planet to take home.
• Horizon Wings (the Secret Lives of Owls) on July 24 at 2 p.m. - Children will learn how people rescue animals.
• Where the Wild Things Are on July 17 from 10:30 a.m. to noon - Children will get the chance to listen to Max's story and make a shadow puppet.
• Robert the Guitar Guy Concert on Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. - Robert the Guitar Guy will perform for children above the age of five.
• We’re Off to Look for Aliens on Aug. 14 from 10:30 a.m. to noon - The story will be read to children and make UFO’s to take home.

Don't worry middle school age students, the library has not left you out. Any middle school child who reads for 900 minutes will have the chance to enter to win an eReader. Children can win a drawstring backpack if they read for 300 minutes and a book for 600 minutes.

The following programs, which runs from June 18 through Aug. 31, are being offered for middle school age children:

• Students can design a shooting star to decorate the Teen Zone.
• On June 28, Spaceballs will be shown at 2 p.m. in the Stepney Room.
• On July 19, children can make pillows out of t-shirts that they bring to the Teen Zone at 2 p.m. 
• On July 26, Legend of the Guardians: Owls of Ga’Hoole will be shown at 2 p.m. in the Stepney Room.
• On Aug. 2, there will be a Glow in the Dark Party with games and crafts from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Stepney Room. 
• On Aug. 9, children can bring cereal boxes to make recycled crafts for back to school at 2 p.m. in the Teen Zone.

The Teen Zone is open Monday to Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The library is offering a different program each day of the week during the summer. Movies will be shown on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Stepney Room. The following movies will be shown:

• Wall-E (G 97 minutes) on July 3
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG 90 minutes) on July 17
• Alice in Wonderland (G 75 minutes) on July 31
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (PG 115 minutes) on Aug. 14

Playgroup will be offered at 10:15 a.m. in the Stepney Room on Wednesdays. Pajama Stories, which is offered for children two and above accompanied by a parent, will be told on June 25, July 2 (Stuffed Animal Sleepover), July 16 and July 23 at 7 p.m. in the Program Room. will be offered Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will be at 10:30 a.m. in the Program Room on the same day.

To register for the programs, stop by the library, visit its website www.rockyhilllibrary.info or call 860-258-7623.

Enjoy reading Patch? Show us some love! Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.