Reading can be fun.
A summer reading program initiated by the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library is scheduled to start Wednesday, June 18 to encourage kids, ages pre-school to age 12, to read for pleasure.
The state library system has decided on the theme of games for the summer reading program and has sent a manual of guidelines to libraries across Pennsylvania to follow. The Family Literacy Council is sponsoring the program with needed money and materials.
The purpose of the program is to get kids excited about reading, especially during the summer months while school is out. Also, it gives an excellent opportunity for children and their families to spend some quality time together.
There are several fun activities planned throughout the summer, and all programs are scheduled to be held at the Citizen’s Social Hall. Families are invited to attend the programs with their children, and children under five must be accompanied by an adult.
Wednesday, June 18 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., registration for the program begins. However, kids can register for the program at any time during the summer, if they happen to miss this date and time. On Wednesday, children have the chance to meet Joe Caruso and Mike Connolly, both Altoona Curve baseball players. Opportunities for free photographs and autographs will be available with the Altoona Curve baseball players.
Tuesday, June 24 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the activity scheduled for the day is Exercise Your Mind! There will be a maze set up in the Citizens Social Hall constructed out of chairs and tables. The participating children will start a project and then to finish the project, they will have to find their way through the huge maze of tables and chairs.
Thursday, July 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the activity is Let’s Get Physical! There will be a mini-Olympics with sack races, jump ropes, racquetball and hula hoops events. Children will receive ribbons after the event.
Tuesday, July 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Family Fun and Games is the planned activity. Pastor Dunkelberger from the First Presbyterian Church is the guest speaker for part of the evening and will be telling stories. Then the rest of the evening children will be playing board games, and they can bring their own games as well. Refreshments will also be served.
Thursday, August 7, starting at 6:30 p.m. there is a planned Awards Program and Ice Cream Party. Awards and prizes that have been accumulated over the course of the summer reading program will be handed out.
Participants need to complete reading requirements based on age levels to receive points. Pre-school children to kids nine years of age must read 40 books, and kids nine through 12 need to read 1000 pages. All books must be checked out from the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library. The last day to turn in reading logs will be Saturday, August 2.
Points are awarded for completing the reading requirements, attendance at programs, a completed book review and a take home sheet that is returned. The ten highest scores win a prize, and there is also a prize for most books read for pre-school through age nine and a prize for most pages read for ages nine through 12.
DelGrosso’s and Benzel’s Pretzels are sponsors that are offering prizes for the program. Children who complete the reading requirements win a DelGrosso’s Buddy Buck, a book, a canvas tote bag and a Benzel’s pretzel tin.
Assistant director of the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library and summer reading coordinator Judie Adams said, “This is a great way for parents to do something with their kids with no charge at all.”
Adams also said that the kids seem to enjoy reading more through this program because the chance of winning prizes gets them excited about the subject. Also, she said there is such a variety of books at the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library that there is always something for the children to read, no matter what there interest.
For more information, contact 684-1133.
