Community Corner
Bloomfield Township Library's' Dream Big: Read!' Summer Reading Program Draws More Than 1,000 Participants
Toddlers through middle school-aged children read thousands of book this summer.
"Dream Big: Read!"
That's exactly what children at the did this summer, as more than 1,000 of them participated in the library's summer reading program.
During the nine-week program, children of all ages set their own personal reading goal. To keep themselves accountable along the way, they were able to measure their progress on a reading game sheet filled with fun challenges such as reading in an empty bathtub or by flashlight. The more books the children read and the more challenges they completed, the more prizes they won.
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"We really believe in discovering the joy of reading for fun and set out to have as few rules as possible," said Marian Rafal, Head of Youth Services. "The children and their parents really embrace this during the summer!"
Rafal notes that all who met their personal goal, whether it be to read five chapter books or 100 picture books, earned a ticket to the "Book Bash" where they could pick up a free paperback book as well enter a drawing to win one of three grand prizes.
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With more than 27 programs having been offered over the summer, many families took "stay-cations" inside the air-conditioned walls of the library.
"At the end of the school year, we visited many of the elementary schools in our service area to promote summer reading and to get the children excited about what was happening here at the library this summer," said Rafal.
Don't worry if your child missed the summer reading program, there is still plenty of fun planned for the upcoming fall months. From "Bouncing Babies" to "Zombie Training 101," and from "Library Survival Skills" to the "Stuffed Animal Sleepover," there's a little something for every kid -- even scientists.
One of the upcoming programs that the library is most excited about is "Mad Science," a book discussion group for children in kindergarten and first grade, and their parents. A story will be read by the group and afterwards, the children will conduct scientific experiments based on the story.
"Dream Big: Read!" concludes this weekend.
For more information on the Library and to view descriptions of all upcoming programs, visit www.btpl.org.
