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PUBLISHED: Friday, June 13, 2008
Summer activities abound at area libraries
By JENNIFER DECKER
Staff Reporter
LAPEER COUNTY -- This summer, libraries in Lapeer County are inviting children to catch the reading bug through special programming.
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Based on a statewide theme, librarians are inviting kids to spend the summer reading and attending various summer activities planned for libraries. The following is a brief synopsis on each one:
Almont District Library invites kids to check out books, reading, and activities through Aug. 2. Children participating will receive prizes for their reading achievements from reading every two hours and those who read 10 hours or more will receive a free book. For every two additional hours, the child's name will be put into a grand prize drawing for additional prizes at the end of the program.
Almont activities planned include animal encounters at 11 a.m. June 24 featuring stories and live animals; Kevin Kammeraad at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 8 with poetry, puppetry, and music; the always popular Science Alive at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. July 15; Joel Tacey at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 22 with comedy and juggling; and fields of flutter with Kathy Huxford at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 29 that will feature an overview of the monarch butterfly's life cycle.
"Science Alive has been coming to the library 12 years," said Almont District Library Director Kay Hurd. "It's popular and so hands on. For our reading portion, we encourage kids to read every two hours with parents. After 10 hours they are rewarded. This is open to preschoolers to age 12. Kids need to read library books for it. Children love getting their prizes every two hours and want to get into the drawing."
Hurd said every year the library gets more kids to participate in the summer reading program. Space is limited and fills very quickly.
Dryden Township Library: Joel Tacey's juggle bug comedy show -- a reading bug safari will entertain children with magic, juggling, and music at 11 a.m. on June 24. Later that day at 1 p.m., Tacey will present his video game party with "Mario Kart Double Dash" and "SuperSmash Brothers" on Nintendo Gamecube. The library will also present scheer genius-science in action at 11 a.m. July 15; animal encounters-stories and live animals at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 22 with each program limited to 75 participants and sign-up begins July 15; the Gratitude Steel Band-music and steel drums at 11 a.m. July 29; and finally fields a flutter-butterfly farm at 11 a.m. Aug. 5, which is limited to 40 participants and sign-up begins July 29.
"We have all new events," said Desta Ureel, Dryden Township Library director. "We expect a lot of kids and it's for all ages. Animal encounters is limited to 75 kids each time. Fields a flutter is limited to 40. I've had Joel Tacey before. We have books about bugs and prizes. We're looking forward to all of it."
Ureel recommended all children should keep reading throughout the summer months -- especially books on their favorite subject matter.
Ruth Hughes Memorial Library in Imlay City has scheduled activities appealing to kids, teens, and adults from June 16-July 26. For kids, it will kickoff with the Acting Up Theatre Company at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Fields a Flutter Butterfly Farm will make a presentation at 6:30 p.m. June 30. Crafts will be offered for ages 6-11 at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays during that time period. Rent a Rambling Naturalist Prairie Pete will be featured at 6:30 p.m. July 7. Animal Encounters with Mike Roberts will start at 6:30 p.m. July 21. Lunch on the lawn will be at noon June 27 and July 18. Preschool storytimes are at 11 a.m. for ages 2-6 on June 20, July 11, and July 25.
Imlay City's library will offer an adult reading program with a theme of "Sow many books, never enough thyme." Adults will be asked to read at least five books during June 16-July 26 at which time they will be able to choose a small prize and enter a grand prize drawing for a gift certificate to a local nursery. In August all participants will be invited to a pizza party to have a book discussion on the books they read. Other programs for adults are in the works and details will be available at sign up, which starts Monday.
Each branch of the Lapeer District Library has summer reading-related activities, said Kate Pohjola, Lapeer District Library director. "People keep asking for Joel Tacey," she said. "We could have that every week and the kids would love it. He's great. July 27 is the drum circle and the third one we've had on a Sunday. Anyone can come."
Pohjola said younger kids who can't read can get in on the action by being read to. Such action can help them pick up words and sounds to learn the task.
"Anshu Varma is doing henna that's part of India culture. She'll be at deAngeli at the end of July for middle school kids on up. Metamorphosis heads teen summer reading. I would love to have more people come out," Pohjola said.
The following are the summer activities at each branch of the Lapeer District Library effective Monday through July 21:
Clifford -- Storytimes are held at 1:30 p.m. (registration needed). Anshu Varma will present interactive henna at 3 p.m. Wednesday (see story on Page B7).
Columbiaville -- Story time is at 6:30 p.m. Mondays. Register at the branch. An Internet bug hunt will be held at 11 a.m. July 11. Classroom critters will creep into the library at 2 p.m. July 18 and space is limited. At 6 p.m. July 23 the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum will make a presentation.
Elba -- From Thursday through July 25 story times will be at 2 p.m. Thursdays and registration is needed. At 11 a.m. July 14 the Young Entomologist Society will teach kids about bugs.
Goodland Township -- Story times will be 11 a.m. Thursdays between Thursday through July 25 and registration is needed. At 2 p.m. July 19 Brian Hayes and Ulysses will demonstrate dog training.
Marguerite deAngeli -- Between Wednesday through July 23 at noon Wednesdays is lunch with the munch bunch; drop in crafts for school age children will be offered 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays; at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Jenifer Iviskas Strauss will present stories; at 2 p.m. June 24 poetry and music will be brought to children by Kevin Kammeraad; Acting-up Company will bring an action-packed theater 2 p.m. July 1; Frisbee skills and dog training tips will be brought to the library by Brian Hayes and Frisbee dog at 2 p.m. July 8; at 2 p.m. July 15 Scheer Genius will bring science wonders; the baffling Bill magic show will astound children at 2 p.m. July 22; at 2 p.m. July 27 Drummunity will be presented to celebrate the 1,000 page challenge; and the summer reading party will be given with a performance by Joel Tacey at 2 p.m. July 29.
Metamora -- From Monday through July 21 story times will be held at 10 a.m. Mondays and registration is required. At 2 p.m. Thursday Ben Spitzer will make an appearance. The popular program Science Alive will perform to a registered crowd at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday.
North Branch Township -- The summer reading program runs through Aug. 2 and includes: Guitar Hero at 6 p.m. Wednesday for ages 10 and up; Acting Up Theater for all ages at 11 a.m. July 1; henna tattoos for ages 10 and up 6 p.m. July 8; Scheer Genius 11 a.m. July 14 for all ages; Animal Encounters for all ages 4 p.m. July 22; drummunity for all ages 11 a.m. July 29; and Fields a Flutter 11 a.m. Aug. 12 for all ages.
Otter Lake -- Tuesday through July 22 story times will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and registration is required. At 6 p.m. June 26 Greg Nelson, hacky sack champion, will demonstration his sport.
To also celebrate reading, an afternoon of books and cookies, a free 45- minute program will focus on pre-reading/reading activities for 3-6-year-olds and their parents. Following the workshop children will be able to select a free book to keep. Register during the summer reading registration. The workshops will be presented: At 2 p.m. Thursday at deAngeli; 2 p.m. June 25 at Metamora; 2 p.m. June 30 at Columbiaville; and 2 p.m. July 22 at Hadley.
In addition, a Parents and Children Together program will be presented by the Family Literacy Center and includes games for participants to play at the workshops. PACT I is for first- and second-graders and focuses on learning to read. PACT 2 is for third- and fourth-graders and focuses on learning to read. PACT 1 will be offered: At 2 p.m. June 23 at Columbiaville; 2 p.m. June 27 at deAngeli; 2 p.m. July 9 at Metamora; and 2 p.m. Aug. 14 at Hadley. PACT 2 will be offered at 2 p.m. June 16 at Columbiaville; 2 p.m. June 18 at Metamora; 2 p.m. July 10 at deAngeli; and 2 p.m. Aug. 20 at Hadley.
