Summer holidays are starting soon.
But that does not mean kids should stop reading.
The theme for this years TD Summer Reading Program is ‘wild’ which is why Norine Mann and summer intern, Matthew Sokolan dressed up as Tedd Arnold’s Fly Guy and a wild thing from Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are for their visits to Humboldt schools.
All the students had to guess who Mann and Sokolan were dressed up as.
Mann says she loves going into the schools and having fun promoting summer reading.
“Just seeing the kids faces and the happy smiles. They’re happy because soon it’s summer holidays.”
The duo went to all the schools in town to promote the club and a lot of rural schools are promoting literacy by coming in for Mann and Sokolan’s presentation.
Sokolan is looking forward to leading the book clubs this summer.
“It’s going to be interesting to share some stories and make some fun crafts,” he says.
TD Summer Reading Program is the biggest bilingual reading program in the country with over 2,000 public libraries taking part.
“The goals of the TD Summer Reading Club are to encourage and strengthen the habit of reading to create life-long learners, to increase children’s reading skills, and to develop a taste for reading,” says Reid-Thompson Librarian, Rose Ward.
Pre-Kindergarten to grade 5 students got to hear all about what the library has planned for the summer. During the nine week program, children and their families will be treated to a weekly themed book club and craft on Mondays.
Each Wednesday, the library will offer special storytimes with guests, crafts, and activities.
Registration for Summer Reading will take place at the library on Jun. 28 with a Fish Pond, contests, challenges, and mystery guest reader.
“Children registering will receive stickers, bookmarks, an activity booklet in which to record the books they have read or had read to them during the summer,” says Ward.
The Wild Wild Windup will take place on Aug. 24 which will be the last day kids have to drop off their reading logs which will be counted across the country with other summer readers.
“In 2015, there were 1750 recorded books read during the summer and this year we are hoping to increase the amount,” says Ward.
Ward would like to thank their sponsors: TD Financial Group, Libraries and Archives Canada, Toronto Public Library, Saskatchewan Lotteries, and SaskTel along with local businesses: the Humboldt Broncos, Hergott Electric, Humboldt Emergency Services and Humboldt Kinettes.
