With the school year almost over, the Avon Free Public Library is getting ready for summer reading.
This year's national theme is Dig into Reading. For the first time, the library will have students count the books they're reading and register for summer reading through computer program Evanced in collaboration with the state library. The program will keep track of the books the students are reading.
"It's to support the Governor's Reading Challenge," children's librarian Kari Ann St. Jean said.
The students will pick a goal for how many books they hope to read. The highest category is 24 books for avid readers and children with parents who read a lot to them. The other goal categories are six for people reading longer books and 12 books.
Available summer reading prizes include a cupcake from Taste by Spellbound, a night at the Marriott with complimentary breakfast, Legos from The Perfect Toy, movies and gift certificates for Glow Cove, Blue Fox Rock N' Bowl, Jump Zone, local pizza places and a trip on the Essex river boat.
"The incentive to come into the library will be a raffle ticket per day," St. Jean said.
Programs will include Mother Goose on the Loose on Mondays, sensory play with materials like colored spaghetti, a movie day at 2 p.m. and performances on Wednesdays. Performers scheduled include a face-painting story artist and Guinness Book of World Records holder John Higby, known as The Yoyo Man.
The library's annual ice cream social is scheduled for July 17.
There will also be a writing workshop for fourth through sixth graders.
Do your kids like to read? What are their favorite books?
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