Kicking off the Summer at the Library
Summer is in full swing here in Utah even if the weather isn’t (I’ve just turned on the heater again). Sadly, summer at our library means no more Tiny Tot storytimes because of the summer reading program, Catch the Reading Bug. When you go to storytime three times a week, and suddenly it’s over, what do you do with yourself?I did not sign up my two and a half year old for the summer reading program because I just don’t think that he’d understand the whole concept of tracking your reading and then getting a prize. He doesn’t understand the reward concept in our current battles with potty training, so I think the summer reading program would go over his head.
We did however, attend the kick off parties at not one, but two different libraries! I almost missed this great event, but my friend clued me in about ten minutes before start time and I raced on over to find that our library had been invaded by spiders, lizards, turtles, and snakes! Scales and Tails put on a amazing one hour show that was hilarious and kept my kids fascinated! This guy (Shane) brought out a 14 foot boa that just gave me the chills to look at and all the kids got to hold the animals and pet them. I was so disappointed that I didn’t bring my camera. But after getting on the Scales and Tails website, was so happy to see that he is doing the entire library circuit all summer long!
We just went on Friday and the next show was Monday (yesterday), so we went again. This time bringing my camera, my husband, and my seven year old niece, whom I won’t picture here because I’m not sure how her mom feels about her photo on the internet, but held more than one snake around her shoulders, a brave woman that one!
My 13 month old tried to climb on top of the turtle, he loved it so much. I couldn’t decide which photo I liked best, so you’ll get three.
Look at those eyes in the last photo. He was enamored with this turtle. I didn’t get a single decent photo of my two year old. Maybe we’ll try again at another library next month. Isn’t that cool? Can you believe that this was at our library? And the boa even licked the little ones hand. I was way more nervous than they were.
I did sign up for the adult reading program, which has a “Bee” theme. To receive special prizes throughout the summer I need to do nine things:
- Read a Reader’s Choice title (a lot to choose from)
- Download an eBook or an eAudiobook
- Read a kid’s book about bugs to a child
- Read a fiction book by an author whose last name begins with a B
- Listen to an audio book (I still have to finish Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)
- Read a nonfiction book about insects (Will mostly likely read one of my books about insects in the garden)
- Search a library database for info about insects
- Read a book with bees in the title (Any ideas besides The Secret Life of Bees?)
- Read a book (wait, that’s easy!)
I’ve read a lot of blogs about people joining their summer reading program. If you haven’t signed up yourself or your kids, what are you waiting for? Get to it!
That is pretty cool! Really cute pictures. I love all the extra programs they have at the library during the summer. The theme this year at our library is a Medieval one so they are having lots of crafts like weaving and embossing and magic shows. Free, fun activities for the kids, what could be better? We actually frequent two library systems so we signed up at both and we’ll be picking activities to attend at each one.
on June 10th, 2008 at 7:12 pmNatasha, you might try reading THE BEEKEEPER’S APPRENTICE. Lovely mystery introducing Mary Russell and starring Sherlock Holmes. It’s by Laurie R. King and I highly recommend it.
on June 10th, 2008 at 7:22 pmHow about Bee Season, by Myla Goldberg?
on June 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pmAw he’s so cute
on June 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pmAlso, random: just wanted to make sure you got my email with my address. With my AOL name I may have slipped into your spam filter
(Believe it or not the KEG part of Kegsoccer is simply my initials!)
on June 10th, 2008 at 8:05 pmThanks for the biting words of encouragement in regards to my lil miss shorty mcshort and…i wish we had an adult summer reading program here. i signed up shorty for the kids program. she loves getting the prizes. and….i’d read the camel bookmobile on the reader’s choice awards list
on June 10th, 2008 at 8:14 pmI wish we had an adult reading program here. When I was in Provo it was one of my favorite things to participate in.
And, I second The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie R. King. It’s one of my favorites (I even reviewed it kind of recently!).
The only other “bee” book I can think of is The Bee Season, which I didn’t actually like much and wouldn’t necessarily recommend (some people love it though).
on June 11th, 2008 at 7:15 amAw, those pictures are adorable. I used to have a turtle just like that when I was a kid. Eventually it dug its way under the fence and ran away (if you can consider a turtle’s slow pace running).
I joined my summer reading program here too! We’re reading banned books this summer, which is why I had to read the frightening “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote, but I’m super excited about it anyway. I love posts about the library. I know us bookish people don’t forget about it, but it seems like a lot of other people forget what a great resource the library is AND it’s FREE!
on June 11th, 2008 at 8:20 amGreat pictures! Is this at the SLC library? I’ve driven past it, but I’ll have to make a point to visit next time I’m visiting family. Your son is beautiful–looks a lot like you, now that I can put a face with your posts.
I loved the summer reading programs growing up, but I can see how the concept would fly right over a two-year-old’s head. Give it time! And good luck with the potty training. My cousin’s son is 3 and she is just now giving it a whirl! I don’t envy either of you, but I’ll get there some day.
on June 11th, 2008 at 11:01 amAH The Library. It combines my 2 most favorite things. Books and Free books.
on June 11th, 2008 at 12:10 pmI too recommend Bee keeper apprentice.
Your library looks like so much fun! I wish we had a summer reading program for younger kids at your library. It’s just grades 4 and up. But they are having an Africa day with some animals at some point this summer. So we’ll have to check that out!
I don’t know what the book is like, but I was not a fan of The Bee Season movie with Richard Gere. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice sounds interesting!
on June 12th, 2008 at 4:44 am