This summer: Escape into the pages of a good book

By Stan Ashbee
Sunny South News

Summer can be a chance for kids to break free from the mundane, while being transported away to another world on an adventure of a lifetime.
All it takes is a good book and an imagination to be whisked off to Narnia, Oz, Hogwarts, Who-Ville or to where the wild things are.
Once upon a time or on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting July 5, Picture Butte Public Library’s TD Summer Reading Club gets local kids geared up for a summer of reading, while out of school. The program runs until Aug. 11, according to library Manager Cheryl Garratt.
For kids aged 3-5 years old, the club runs from 10-10:45 a.m. For kids aged 6-8 years old the club runs from 11 a.m. to noon. For kids aged 9-12 years old the club runs from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Parents can register children once at the beginning of the program for the summer and children can come and go at the appropriate age group time.
“We’re not going to limit the registration,” she noted.
Each year, club attendance starts off in large numbers but tapers off throughout the summer due to family holidays.
“It’s usually well attended,” she added. A reminder, there are also prizes for readers.
Garratt said the summer reading program tries to prevent what is referred to as, “the summer slide.”
“A lot of times kids don’t have access to books. It’s great they join the library to keep on reading and it’s activities and things that involve reading. It just helps them to stay interested in that and not lose what they’ve gained in their school year,” she said.
For youth, aged 10-15 years old, the library and Alberta Health Services (AHS) will be offering a four-day pilot program.
B.O.R.E.D. or Becoming Overly Reclusive Every Day will run Aug. 15-18 from 1-3:30 p.m.
The program’s objective is for youth to play games, make cool art projects and beat the heat and the summer “I’m bored” doldrums.
“It’s not so much a reading program,” Garratt noted.
Call the library to register for this program or to find out any other information about summer reading at 403-732-4141.