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Local Summer Reading Programs - Interview with WPL

To Encourage and Motivate Your Kids to Read All Summer Long

By Noelle Monaghan - North Worcester Macaroni Kid Publisher July 20, 2016

I interviewed Iris Delgado, Youth Services Manager at the Worcester Public Library recently and asked her for tips on summer reading.  

"All Massachusetts libraries are celebrating the theme of Wellness, Fitness and Sports during our annual summer reading programs to go along with this year’s Summer Olympics. We have a big kick off in a week, June 18th for all ages (young and old). There will be all sorts of activities for all ages, including games, crafts, photo ops, food tasting, and more. Our summer reading program is for children, teens and adults.

 

Patrons signup online from home or at the library and keep track of their reading. Children set their goals and earn prizes for meeting them. There’s a grand prize drawing for those meeting the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. We encourage children to attend a variety of activities and events throughout the summer including professional performances, movies, crafts, story times, etc. and the minutes spend at programs may be counted as part of reading."

Check out our FREE list of summer reading programs for kids available this year.  There are several programs offered by the local libraries as well as by Barnes and Noble, TD Bank in the Worcester area, Annie's Book Stop of Worcester and Showcase Cinema!

·          At Barnes and Noble, you can earn free books by reading.  Grades 1-6 are eligible.  They are hosting a reading triathlon this summer.  Simply answer 3 of 4 book related questions and record them in the reading journal on this site: http://dispatch.barnesandnoble.com/content/dam/ccr/pdf/2016/summer-reading/2016_BN_SummerReading_Journal.pdf  Next, bring the completed form to your local Barnes and Noble (there’s one in Worcester and one in Millbury).  Finally, choose your free book from selection on the Reading Journal list at the store!

Annie's Book Stop of Worcester is offering students rewards for their good grades!  From now until June 30th, show a copy of your report card with A's/B's or equivalent and receive rewards ranging from 1 free book, 2 free books or a $5 or $10 gift certificate to the store.  Bring in those great report cards and show them off!  On a personal note, I took my children there and my son was so proud and had a blast shopping at this quaint store.

·          Showcase Cinema hosts Bookworm Wednesdays every Wednesday at 10AM in July.  All you need to do, is check on their website for more information HERE.  Then, read your book and complete a book report.  Finally, bring the completed book report with you to Cinema de Lux in Millbury on selected Wednesdays and the report is your admission ticket!  Children 6 and under are free and do not need to submit a book report for admission. Movies available this summer are: The Peanuts Movie, Kung Fu Panda, Alvin and the Chipmunks The Road Chip and Home.

·          The Worcester Public Library will host a summer reading program with a kickoff party on Saturday, June 18th from 10-1pm.  You can learn more about their program by visiting their website here.  The theme this year is Wellness, Fitness and Sports!  Sign ups begin on June 1st.

·          TD Bank in the Worcester area is again offering a summer reading program from June 1- August 31st.  Children from grades K-5 can earn $10 by completing the reading log and taking it to a local branch.  The details of the program are HERE.  Read 10 books, fill out the reading log HERE and earn $10.

·          Chuck E. Cheese's in Worcester is offering 10 free tokens for children that read a book every day for 2 weeks.  Print the form here and bring it in to claim your free tokens.

·          Scholastic is offering a virtual summer reading program from now until Sept 9th.  Log your reading minutes here and track your schools progress.  

·          The Shrewsbury Public Library’s Summer Reading program begins on Wednesday, June 29th and you can keep up-to-date with their latest updates by visiting HERE.

The West Boylston Library Summer Reading program began on Tuesday, June 21st.  They will be giving away bookmarks and backpacks while supplies last.  

The Millbury Public Library Summer Reading program began on Tuesday, June 21st.
 

 

Noelle