Submitted by The Lopez Island Library

Each summer, the Lopez Island Library encourages readers of all ages to continue reading and learning throughout the warm and sunny months when schools are not in session by creating reading challenges (with prizes) for anyone interested in participating. Summer is a great time to read without tests or expectations, and reading for pleasure is directly related to increased language skills and an expanded world view. The 2019 summer reading challenge program runs from June 1 to Aug. 31, and challenge sheets for all ages are available at the library’s circulation desk. Prereaders and elementary-age students can play book bingo, which recommends activities as well as book theme ideas. Teens and adults will be challenged to track the number of pages they read this summer, and can add pages to their total by attending library programs, responding to creative writing prompts and other out-of-the-box recommendations. All participants who return completed sheets by Aug. 31 will be eligible for prizes ranging from a bag of Takis chips to gift certificates for local food and entertainment. Every year, the Collaborative Summer Library Program—a nonprofit, charitable organization that supports literacy, education and science through summer reading events in public libraries across the United States—creates an annual theme for libraries to steer their summer reading challenges and auxiliary programming. The 2019 summer reading theme is A Universe of Stories, with an emphasis on space-related content, STEAM programs and storytelling. Thus, in addition to reading challenge sheets, the Lopez Library will be hosting weekly programs that align with the annual theme every Wednesday afternoon. Activities include straw-rocket building and racing, full-moon crafts, a performance by native flute player and storyteller Peter Ali, a reader’s theater and an evening of bat-finding and waffles with Kwiaht. Stay tuned for more summer program information, and start your summer reading today!