The Louisville Free Public Library kicked off its READ BIG! summer reading program last weekend to huge crowds and enthusiastic youngsters, all eager to start their summer reading adventures over the next ten weeks. The summer reading program officially began on June 1, and 5 days later it’s time to head to your local public library branch and pick up your child’s summer reading log so they can get started, and today is the last day of school for most (mainly JCPS) school systems!
Prizes! Avoid the summer slide! Prizes! Free programs! Prizes! Keep them busy! Did I mention prizes?! All kids through 5th grade are invited to read 10 books for the summer in order to win a slew of great prizes. These include:
- A neon drawstring backpack
• A pass to the Thomas Edison House
• A pass to the Louisville Science Center
• A pass to Squire Boone Caverns
• A pass to Historical Locust Grove
• A ticket to a Louisville Bats baseball game
• A pass to the Rauch Planetarium
• A pass to the Frazier Historical Museum
• 2 weeks of lessons from Hwang’s Martial Arts (Free white belt)
• A coupon for a free lemon ice from Fazoli’s
• A coupon for a free Frosty from Wendy’s
• A family day pass to the Metro YMCA
• Sheet of coupons for UofL sporting events
Middle schoolers and high schoolers can get in on the action as well. Those teens entering sixth grade all the way through twelfth grade are invited to check out the Teen Summer Reading Program as well. Teens have to read 6 books and pick one other activity in order to win their prizes, which include a set of earbuds and some of the same passes that younger children win. Both children and teens will have a chance to win weekly book giveaway prizes as well as grand prizes at the end of the program.
My kids and I ventured downtown for the kickoff last Saturday at the Main Library, and every time I step through the huge Victorian-like doors on the older south side of the library building, I’m reminded how much I love libraries and the excitement you can find as you walk through the entry and find your way to the stacks of bookshelves. My kids and I enjoyed art activities, seeing larger than life dinosaurs, playing in the music garden, and finding hidden objects inside a baby pool full of – shredded paper. Genius I tell you! I found a new literacy play idea without searching Pinterest and pinning the umpteenth thing that I most likely won’t do!
Check out your local library today, this weekend, next week, and all summer long. I promise you, whether your child is 6 months old, 6 years old, or 16 years old, there is something going on somewhere in the city in one of these fabulous libraries. Step inside the doors and see for yourself! You can find all the calendar information that is full of programming here.
Don’t forget that the library will have the Cultural Passes for Youth through the Mayor’s initiative starting June 9. The Kindergarten Countdown program is not to be missed, as well as continued work on the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program.
As I like to say, I’ll see you at the Library.
Photos courtesy of Louisville Free Public Library, Facebook
