Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Public Library Reading Program begins July 6, featuring activities for five age groups.
Registration is from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 23 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25. Children receive a free book when they register and a free library card.
The theme is “One World, Many Stories.”
The annual Reading Program draws 250 to 300 registrations each year. Attendance ranges up and down, with some 160 attending each week.
Even if children can’t come, they should read at home and participate in the Reading Challenge, said librarian Sandi Leonard. “All the information out there says if kids read for fun, they will do better in school.”
If the children can’t read yet, they can still participate in the Reading Challenge, she said, by having books read to them.
“I want them to have a good memory of the library,” Leonard said. “I want them to have fun reading. Read for fun is the real key.”
Groups include Tots, ages 0-2; Preschool, ages 3-5; Juniors, kindergarten through fourth grade; Tweens, fifth and sixth grades; and teens, ages 13-18, with seventh grade completed.
The oldest four age groups can participate in the Reading Challenge by completing reading tasks listed on a 4×4 grid, Leonard said. Children win prizes for completing a row of the tasks. For completing the whole thing, they have a chance to win a grand prize.
They also will receive a certificate from the State of Oregon for reading 10 books over the summer.
The Library Dragon will be out and about in local businesses during July. Children, 3-12, who find the dragon can pick a prize from the treasure chest at the library.
Teens can answer a weekly question appearing in The New Era for a $20 gift card.
Groups preschool through teen will Walk on the Wild Side with reptiles and artifacts from Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Madagascar and South America, provided by Liz Johnson, a teacher at Sweet Home Junior High School on July 27.
13th Avenue will be closed on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and library programs will be held outside.
Preschool: Tots and preschoolers meet from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Preschoolers will take an imaginary airplane trip to Australia or Africa on July 6.
On July 13, Preschool and Juniors will meet a real camel. Frank McCubbins will bring a camel to the library, and children will enjoy stories, crafts and snacks.
July 20 is a Costume Carnival. Children should come dressed in a costume from another country.
Juniors will enjoy a magic show with magician Steve Taylor on July 6.
On July 13, they also will meet a real camel.
On July 20, they will have fun with Music In Action, with music and instruments from around the world, by Rick Glover.
Tweens will Explore the World on July 6 with World Bingo, Guess the Mystery photos and food from another country.
On July 13, they will explore their imaginations, with the possibility of publishing a story in The New Era.
On July 20, they will Explore the Universe, building and decorating their own rockets and shooting them off in front of the library. They should come dressed as an alien and ready to eat out-of-this-world food.
Teens: On July 6, Teens will Explore the World on their own safari, with World Bingo, Guess the Mystery, a pizza party and a movie.
They will journal and write their own books on July 13, with the possibility of publishing a story in The New Era.
On July 20, they Explore the Universe, making and launching their own rockets. Like the Tweens, they should come dressed as aliens and ready to eat out-of-this-world food.
For more information, call the library at (541) 367-5007.