Be a “hero” at the Tuolumne County Library this summer with the Summer Reading Program, beginning on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
Children of all ages will earn books to keep, explore fun activities, and participate in various reading activities with this year’s theme of Every Hero Has a Story. The Summer Reading Program at Sonora Main Library on 480 Greenley Road has its big annual kick-off party on Tuesday, June 16th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM with our celebrity story reader Maryann Curmi, a 5 Claw Martial Arts demonstration, face painting, crafts and other fun activities. Some of the other special activities planned for the summer are: Nature’s Detective Heroes, String Rocket Races and Super Airplanes, Community Heroes with the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department, Super Hero Training with Captain Positivity, Creative Cardboard Super Heroes, and a Stuffed Animal Sleepover.
Numerous studies have shown that reading over the summer prevents “summer reading loss.” Summer reading loss is cumulative. Children don’t “catch up” in fall because the other children are moving ahead with their skills. By the end of 6th grade children who lose reading skills over the summer are two years behind their classmates.
Families that utilize the benefits provided by collaborative summer reading programs offered at public libraries are found to enhance their children’s reading skills during their crucial developmental years and beyond. Children without access to books can borrow them from the public library at no cost and continue reading all summer long, and by developing strong reading skills, children open the door to additional learning that can benefit them throughout their life.
All library branches will be offering incentives to children and teens for reading over the summer beginning Tuesday, June 16th. Sonora starts their program on Tuesday, June 16th, with their annual “Fun in the Sun” at the Heaven for Kids Park in Sonora at 10:30 AM. Children can sign up to participate and read or be read to, to earn books to keep or for independent readers a chance to win special prizes. The Tuolumne City Branch also begins their programs on Tuesday, June 16th with Opening Day activities starting at 2:30 PM. All programs at Tuolumne City Branch will be held on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:45. Twain Harte Branch will offer special activities for children on Wednesdays beginning at 10:30 until 11:30 AM. And Groveland Branch will provide special programs on Tuesdays from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. All young independent readers who take the 5 Book Challenge will earn a raffle ticket for special prizes such as Amazon Gift Cards, Mountain Bookshop Gift Cards and Regal Theater Gift Cards.
Children will also have opportunities to read to dogs. This successful program will encourage even the most reluctant reader to read aloud to a specially trained canine. Sonora Main Library will offer this program on Thursdays from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
The Tuolumne County Library’s Summer Reading Club ends during the first week of August with a special pool party at Columbia Pool for all of the children who complete 6 hours of reading during the program.
For more information about the summer reading program please contact your local branch. The Sonora Main Library can be reached at 533-5507, Groveland Branch at 962-6144, Twain Harte Branch at 586-4501, and Tuolumne Branch at 928-3612. For information regarding the Worlds of Wonder, the Tuolumne County Library bookmobile, please call the library at 533-5507.
