Fact: I used to ride my bike to school while reading a book.
Okay, this is not really important, but it sort of gives you a peek into this post. Sort of. Plus, it’s kind of hilarious.  Hey, at least I wore a helmet!!

Fact: When I was fifteen years old my family drove across Canada in our big van.  It took six weeks.  How we managed to live for six weeks in that small space and live to happily share the stories is a mystery… a mystery solved at the Kamloops Public Library.

Books.

Books, books and more books.  The kind people at the library in July 1996 were wonderful enough to forgive the massive late charges on a Rubbermaid bin full of books that my family brought on our trip.  We read our way across the country, stopping on the way, adventuring the most wonderful and memorable adventures and playing crazy games as we went (and I’m sure that we fought sometimes, too).  Summer meant reading – whether at home or not.

I remember every summer for… ever, being a part of the summer reading program at the Kamloops library (because I’m an old-time Kamloops-girl).  I remember enjoying the different themes and seeing the different mascots, I remember eating cake with too much icing at the wind-up party.  I remember stressing out because I couldn’t find my booklet to record my reading.  I remember when there were three pages of Sweet Valley titles and I think I was accused of cheating by someone (maybe my younger brother) because… “those weren’t really books.”

Imagine my booky excitement at realizing that I have missed out on four summers of summer reading programs that my kids could have been enrolled in.  Because you don’t have to have a reader to join the Summer Reading Program, you can sign your little ones up for the Summer Read-To-Me Program, too!

So, we did.  My son is in the Reading Program and my daughter in the Read-To-Me Program.  They are both excited about getting to fill in their booklets and getting to check out the cool stuff that will be going on at the library!

We met Miss Morgan and got to pick out our musical notes.

Then we wrote our names on them.

Then, we learned about how the program works and what we have to do after we read for 15 minutes every day.

Then, we stuck our musical notes onto the big mural with lots of other kids’ notes.

Yahoo!!

It’s going to be great fun to read together, this summer.

If you haven’t gotten out to the library to register, today is the first day of the programs.  Today is free comic day!  So, if you go in at any time today, your little reader (or read-to-me-er) will get a free comic book!

There are lots of great events happening over the summer weeks, be sure to catch as many as you can!

July 5 – 9 Readers Roar

Name the mascot

Comic Book Giveaway, July 5th * Chris Tougas, author and illustrator will be in the library at 10:30am on July 9th*

July 12 – 16 A Rocky Read

Create a “Rock Star”

Learn about dinosaurs

July 19 -23 Riddled Readers

Scavenger Hunt

Brain Teasers and Guess the number of rocks

July 26 – 30 Rock ‘n’ Roll Read

Guitar Hero and Games

Make and instrument or write a song

August 2 – 6 Read a Ruckus

Bring in a joke for display

Read a funny book

August 9 – 13 Rise Up Readers

Share a good deed

Write a letter to someone who inspires you

August 17 – 21 Risky Reads

Create your own superhero

Spice up sentences

August 23 – 28 Catch Up and Wrap Up

Wrap-up party on Saturday, August 28th

For more information about the Summer Reading Program, you can stop by either branch – Kamloops or North Kamloops, or call 250-372-5145

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Don’t forget to enter this great giveaway!!

About your Author | Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a Kamloops lifer. Born at RIH, she is happy to be raising her family here. Married with three wonderful children, Elizabeth is a full-time teacher and enjoys working with parents as she learns more about this "Mommy gig". Elizabeth is passionate about parenting and enjoys networking with other parents. She has been running KamloopsParents.Com since March 2010.