CPL launches full slate of summer programming

Young readers who visit the Canton library this summer will find aliens in the Junior Room, friendly creatures whose pictures are somewhere in the lower level space. Children who take part in A Universe of Stories, the summer reading program at the library, need to find at least six of the 10 aliens to complete a row on a bingo card of activities. For each row they complete, children can drop a raffle ticket into a jar for a prize of their choice or pick a toy prize from Rhonda the Robot, who sits near the circulation desk and whose inner workings hold a treasure chest of small prizes.

Rhonda the Robot in the library’s Junior Room

The librarians at the Canton library are inviting both children and teenagers to explore the world of reading through A Universe of Stories. Students in middle and high school can find information about the program in the young adult section while younger students and those not yet reading can register and record their books in the Junior Room. The program for those not yet reading is called Read to Me. A kickoff picnic for all groups was held June 21.

Younger readers start by registering for the program and then reading five books. Once they have done that, they can pick up their reading log in the Junior Room and add a sticker to it to record the five titles. They also get a chance to guess how many stars are in a small rocket ship. Each time they read five books, they receive a sticker and get another opportunity to guess the number of stars.There is a prize for the winner.

“Whether you just finished first grade or you’re not a reader yet, it’s based on five books,” said assistant children’s librarian Lori Brooks.

Library Director Andrea Capone shared the idea of the bingo game with the children’s librarians. “We tailored it,” Brooks said. Each card has 25 different activities; readers can complete a maximum of one row per day by playing a board game, using an I Spy Book, going for a walk, reading a book with a female character, or choosing another activity to complete. Children who choose a raffle ticket will drop the ticket into one of six jars. Altitude Trampoline Park, D & E Pizza and Subs, and TreeTop Adventures donated prizes to the program. An anonymous donor donated tickets to Ecotarium and Cape Codder water park, and a publisher donated a Fire 7 tablet.

Brooks and children’s librarian Ann Woodman designed and made Rhonda the Robot for those children who prefer a prize immediately. They asked Julieanne Poznysz Goodrich, daughter of assistant children’s librarian Florence Poznysz, to help with Rhonda’s finishing touches. Poznysz has designed sets for the Milton Players and the Luce Elementary School plays. “She brought it to life,” Brooks said.

Older readers will earn points that are equal to raffle tickets on their own and as part of a team. They start by choosing to be on the Astronaut Dragon team or the Space Unicorn team and then writing their summer reading goal on a reading log. They earn 100 points, or one raffle ticket for each book they read, review they write, or library program they attend. The points are also tallied for each team. Each Monday, the members of the winning team will pick a prize one time before the next weekly winner is announced.

At the end of the summer, the team with the highest number of pages read will receive three additional raffle tickets. Readers will drop their tickets in jars for a chance to win gift cards from Legacy Place, Barnes and Noble, Dunkin’ Donuts, and D & E.

Young Adult librarian Rosie Moore enjoys working with teenagers. “They’re just really fun,“ she said. “They just are so curious and funny.” She also loves seeing how they make new friends through the programs at the library. “It’s really special to me,” she said.

Both programs have activities for readers planned for the summer. Dungeons & Dragons started July 1 at 6 p.m. for older readers and will continue each week through August 26. Teen time starts Friday, July 5, and will be held every other Friday, allowing teens to watch a different Marvel movie in the Aldrich Room. Teens can enjoy video game tournaments, snacks, and board games during Throw Down Thursdays from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The new Cook Book Club will meet twice this summer: Tuesday, July 9, and Tuesday, August 13.

Readers will register to prepare a recipe from Damn Delicious by Chungah Rhee on July 9 and another from How to Feed Yourself from Spoon University on August 13. They will prepare the dish at home and then bring it to the library to share with the other cooks. Library staff will provide plates, utensils, cups and drinks.

Toddlers (18 to 36 months) and their caregivers can enjoy Yoga with Valerie on Mondays from 1:15 to 2 p.m., and Story Time for kids ages 2.5 to 5.5 begins July 9 at 10:30 a.m.

Scrapbooking sessions for children ages 8-12 will be held on Mondays starting July 8. “They bring their own binder and photos,” Brooks said. “We’ll give them everything so they can bling out the scrapbook.”

Wednesdays feature STEAM activities for grades K-6 at 2:30 p.m. and family movies in the evenings. Crafts for children in grades K-6 start Thursday, July 11, at 2:30, and Pajama Story Time for young children is Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

The Canton library has added Saturday hours for the summer starting June 29. The library will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the exception of July 6 and August 31. For more information on the summer reading programs, go to library.canton.ma.us.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on Jul 4 2019. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.