Summer Begins Inside a Book

The Grand Terrace Library recently launched its "Excavate Something Big Summer Reading Program" for 2014. Through the launch of this program, the Grand Terrace Library is encouraging children and teenagers to continue to read and expand their knowledge even though the school year has ended. The Summer Reading Program is an annual event that pushes children, teenagers, and adults to read more books then they would during summer vacation. The program consists of children and teenagers tracking their reading. When a child or teenager signs up for the reading program they choose a reading track to follow for the summer (tracking their reading through books, pages, or by minutes). Once a track is chosen, the library offers a gift bag to the participant with the guidelines for the program, a bookmark, and a folder so the child or teen can track their reading progress. The gift bag is offered to inspire children to log in their reading progress in the reading log and see their progression throughout the summer. Bookmarks and reading logs are not the only gifts that are offered to the participants. The reading program also offers rewards every week for the children and teens that meet the minimum weekly reading requirement. The minimum requirement is based on the particular track the children and teen choose. What about the children and teens who exceed the minimum requirement? For the more avid reader the Grand Terrace Library encourages children and teens to reach the country-wide goal. For children the county-wide goal; logging in 45 books, 450 pages, or six hours of reading. The teenager challenge is slightly more daunting; log eight books, 800 pages, or eight hours of reading. For the children and teens who meet this goal, they are entered into a county-wide grand prize drawing where the winner can receive a WiiU Gaming System, Nook HD Tablet, and many other exciting prizes. "I will definitely join the program," said Cindy Phelps, local elementary school teacher. "I encourage my girls to read for fifteen minutes before they play, and fifteen minutes before bedtime. If a child reads five books during the summer vacation they will maintain their reading level as they advance to the next grade." As a first grade teacher at Grand Terrace Elementary School, Phelps understands the importance and rewards children and teens can receive through reading. The importance of reading has been passed down to her two daughters Katie and Kimberly. "I like to read Chicka Chicka Boom," said Katie Patalano, a six-year-old girl, who joined the Summer Reading Program. "And animal books are my favorite." "Through this program we want to push children to read," said Jennifer Palma, the library assistant in charge of the Summer Reading Program. "Picture books are a favorite for the younger children and parents seem to prefer these books for their kids. The moms and dads who join the program push for their children to read." The Summer Reading Program not only pushes children and teenagers to read, but also pushes the children and teenagers to have fun during the summer as well. Throughout the summer, the Summer Reading Program offers numerous events where families can get together and have family movie day, family performances which include live music, animal shows, magicians, and many more exciting performances that both children and parents can enjoy. For the younger children, the program also offer a Kid Zone craft time where kids can be creative through different arts and crafts. Even though sign ups have already started, children and teenagers are encouraged to still sign up and join the fun the Excavate Something Big Summer Reading Program has to offer. To sign up for the program visit the Grand Terrace Public Library and join in on the fun this summer.