The library’s Summer Reading Program encourages all ages to read in the face of national reading declines.
The library’s annual Summer Reading Program encourages families to keep their minds engaged over the summer by reading and completing challenges to win rewards. This year’s program will launch on Saturday, June 10 with a kickoff for all ages.
From the start of the Summer Reading Program through its conclusion on Friday, August 11, residents and students in West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake, and Orchard Lake have the opportunity to earn rewards for meeting reading milestones and completing challenges.
The program aims to prevent the summer slide—the loss of valuable academic skills over the course of summer break. At a time when over half of Michigan’s third graders are reported to struggle with reading, maintaining reading skills over the summer is critical.
Summer Reading also provides participants a chance to earn rewards for reading books of their own choosing. This is important because 92% of kids say they’re more likely to finish
reading a book they’ve picked out for themselves.
Heyddy Pedreschi’s four children—Fabrizio, Francesca, Vincenzo, and Luciano Clemente—were all recognized by the West Bloomfield School District and Library last summer for reading significant hours through the Summer Reading Program. Each child placed among the top five readers in their grade for participation in the program.
“I think it’s good when the kids get incentives,” Pedreschi said. “Because they want something—a prize—they’ll read more and more.”
Participants under the age of 18 can earn up to five books—one for every 10 hours read up to 50 hours. These rewards are important for young readers, too. Studies suggest that growing up with a home library can significantly impact a child’s academic and career success.
Adults who register for Summer Reading have the chance to earn up to three rewards for meeting reading milestones, including library swag and a Friendshop coupon.
Though most adults don’t have to worry about the summer slide in their own lives, when children see adults reading, they’re more likely to mirror that behavior. Plus, reading provides a host of other benefits to all ages, including stress reduction, a stronger brain, increased vocabulary, and improved empathy.
This year, Summer Reading participants can also complete challenges on a digital bingo card to earn tickets. Tickets can be put toward drawings for different themed baskets across each of the four age categories: baby/toddler, youth, teen, and adult.
To celebrate this year’s Summer Reading theme, “All Together Now,” everyone is invited to participate in a community-wide art project. Drop by the Main Library or Westacres Branch beginning June 14 to decorate a handprint signifying what makes you special and unique. Watch as the community tree grows throughout the summer.
The library will also host a variety of engaging events to bring the community “All Together Now” for reading activities, performances, presentations, and more throughout the summer.
In an effort to support students’ academic success, the library is piloting a program with families from the West Bloomfield School District, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Speech-language pathologists will work with students in PreK through 2nd grade and their families to build social language and literacy skills at the library over the summer. While this program will initially be limited to students from the district, the library hopes it can be expanded in future years if it proves successful.
For children learning English as another language, the library is also launching an English language conversation group for kids in grades K-5. Over the summer, children (with a parent or caregiver) can join others their age for an hour of English language conversation on Tuesdays, June 20, July 11 and 18, and August 1 and 8 at 3 PM. No registration is required.
The library will also host a variety of STEM and craft events for all ages throughout the summer.
Pedreschi and her family loved attending the library’s summer events last year. She plans to enroll herself and her children in the Summer Reading Program again this year, and she encourages other families to sign up, too.
“The kids want to read more,” Pedreschi said. “It’s good for them because we have to wait a couple months before school starts again. Then they’ll do one more thing besides looking at a screen, you know?”
The Summer Reading Program rewards are sponsored by the Friends of the West Bloomfield Library with donations from Toyology Toys and 44 Scoops in West Bloomfield.
Sign up for Summer Reading!
Visit westbloomlib.beanstack.org to get started!