School is out (a little earlier than expected) and summer reading season is here once again. Bowen Island Public Library is offering a variety of summer programs for kids from 5-18. Programs are flexible enough for any reader and include at-home reading booklets, in-library weekly events, and an online teen reading club. So stop by, call us (947-9788) or email Nikky ([email protected]) for more information.
Summer reading has many benefits. By reading for just fifteen minutes a day, students are able to maintain and even improve their reading level over the summer months. Reluctant readers often become more motivated to read because they are allowed to read at their own pace and have the freedom to choose what they want to read. Summer reading club at the library provides the support of expert library staff and a fun, prize-filled atmosphere.
After signing up for summer reading booklets at the library desk, summer readers earn stickers by completing daily reading. There are prizes for each week of reading and a medal for children who complete the entire fifty days of reading. Summer reading booklets are available for kids between 5 and 13.
The library will also be offering two in-person reading clubs, with book recommendations, crafts, games, and drama activities. Super Summer Readers is for kids from 5-9 and BeTWEEN the Lines is for kids from 9-13. The theme of both clubs is “funny business” including jokes, riddles, comics, and offbeat and humorous books. Schedules and registration information is available on the Bowen Island Public Library website at www.bowenlibrary.ca.
Teens can participate in the “Time Travel” online teen reading club at teenrc.ca, where they can safely post reviews, share creative writing and win prizes! This year’s grand prize is 16 GB iPad mini There will be an online visit from Marissa Meyer, author of the popular Lunar Chronicles, on July 22. The library would also like to offer an in-person book club for teens. Contact summer reading co-ordinator Nikky McCarvill at [email protected] if you are interested in having a teen book club.
More than 85,000 kids from across the province participate in summer reading club each year. It is sponsored by the British Columbia Library Association with assistance from the Ministry of Education, Libraries Branch and the RBC Foundation. The Bowen Island Library is fortunate to have additional support from Friends of Bowen Island Library, who have provided funding for program supplies and weekly prizes.
