The school year may be over, but that won’t stop children from reading.

In fact, summer is when the real reading fun begins. According to a three-year study by Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, kids who participate in summer reading programs increase their skills, while kids who don’t read through the summer months experience some level of learning loss. Luckily, local libraries have the antidote to beat summer boredom…and learning loss!

Both El Dorado Hills and Folsom Libraries share the same theme – “One World, Many Stories.”

EL DORADO HILLS LIBRARY

EDH Library will kick off their program on June 11 with a party combining storytellers, face painting, games, ice cream and free books and book bags! Children are encouraged to take reading logs to earn prizes, and teens can earn a prize each time they read a book and write a brief review.

“Teen Tuesdays” is part of the summer lineup, and will offer crafts like tie-dye T-shirts, duct-tape wallets, temporary tattoos and candy sushi. Every Thursday there will be arts and crafts for all ages, and kids can create masks, watercolor projects, origami figures and learn to weave and work with clay. The library will offer various story times throughout the summer as well. “Pirate Story Time,” complete with sword-fighting demonstrations, is a kid favorite.

The library is also involved in an ongoing project for both teens and adults called “Dress A Girl,” which teaches visitors to sew pillowcases into dresses for children around the world who don’t have clothing. “We’ve already made over 400 dresses,” says Branch Manager, Carolyn Brooks.

The library will finish their summer program on August 20 with an 80-foot ship, trebuchets and actors in costume. “We had almost 5,000 people who came to the final event last year,” Brooks says.

FOLSOM LIBRARY

Folsom Library kicked off their summer reading program on May 28, but it will run until July 31. Children are encouraged to pick up reading logs and read for prizes. “There’s a program for pre-readers that is activity based and includes story times; and older readers who complete 10 hours in their reading log will receive prizes like new books,” says Greta Galindo, library supervisor. “Teens’ goal is 15 reading hours to receive a prize.” Musical events, games from around the world and arts and crafts will highlight summer events for kids. Each Saturday in June and July, the library will also offer movie matinees.

“One World, Many Crafts,” a drop-in event from 1-4 p.m. on June 22, will include crafts for preschoolers and kids up to fifth grade. Other library fun includes “One World, Many Songs” with performer, Bonnie Lockhart on July 7 at 1 p.m., and “One World, Many Games,” a drop-in event from 1-4 p.m. on July 20.

Galindo says the events are always well attended, especially story times, which frequently entice up to 100 kids or more. Story times will focus on a variety of themes, including animals from around the world, food from around the world, under the world (sea stories) and more!
It’s obvious there is a lot of community excitement about summer reading, and librarians everywhere are excited to get good books into children’s hands. “We really want to encourage summer reading at every opportunity,” Galindo says. “The programs are fun, free and no registration is required!”

FOR MORE DETAILS

El Dorado Hills Library
7455 Silva Valley Parkway
916-358-3500, eldoradolibrary.org/edh.htm

Folsom Public Library
411 Stafford Street
916-355-7374, folsomlibrary.com