Photo courtesy of the Hoover Public Library.
A boy pushes a giant inflatable ball at the Hoover Public Library’s 2016 summer reading kickoff party at Veterans Park.
Libraries are encouraging students from Hoover and across Shelby County to "Build a Better World" through their summer reading.
Hoover Public Library, Chelsea Public Library and the North Shelby Public Library all have summer reading programs planned for their youngest readers.
North Shelby Library,
Mt Laurel Library
Even though North Shelby Library’s summer reading program will not officially kick off until June 3, eager readers can begin registering books May 22. Children can register for summer reading at North Shelby Library and the Mt Laurel Library, as well as online at northshelbylibrary.com.
The summer reading program will officially kick off with a party June 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The celebration includes a bounce house, face painting, games and snacks.
Different reading goals are set for different age groups, and each time a reader reaches a goal, they will be entered for one of two grand prizes: a bike or a Kindle Fire. Weekly prizes also will be chosen each Friday at noon.
Throughout summer reading, children can receive Library Dollars to be used in the general store at both libraries, and the store includes books, toys, games, candy and other items. Dollars can be earned by reaching reading goals or registering early.
Summer reading end parties are July 22 at 10:30 a.m. and July 26 at 10:30 a.m.
For more information, go to northshelbylibrary.com.
Chelsea Public Library
Children ages K5 through fifth grade will meet at Chelsea City Hall Wednesdays at 2 p.m.
Events include:
► June 14: Bill Packard with Magic Man Entertainment — Build a Better Mousetrap
► June 21: Brian Bruggeman with Juggling Depot
► June 28: Ventriloquist Ron Lighty with Jason and Company
► July 5: Build Day with Legos and Strawbees
► July 12: Sixth day creatures, the library’s animal program
► July 19: Hoops for fitness, a hula hoop program
Hoover Public Library
The Hoover Public Library is kicking off its 2017 summer reading program with a Book It! 5K at Veterans Park on May 20.
The 3.2-mile run, sponsored by the Friends of the Hoover Library for adults and children alike, starts at 8 a.m. and will be followed by a "story stroll" around the lake at 9 a.m. The "story stroll" will allow children to read pages of a book at different stations as they walk around the lake.
From 10 a.m. to noon, the library is holding its summer reading kickoff party with inflatables, crafts, games, a petting zoo, balloon artist, airbrush tattoo artist, snacks and drinks, said Jeremy Davis, coordinator of the library’s children’s department.
Activities will be centered around this year’s theme for the summer reading program, "Build a Better World."
Children will be allowed to plant a seed, build with Legos and participate in a collaborative art project by filling in the outline of the world with their thumbprints, Davis said.
May 20 will be the first day children are allowed to sign up for the summer reading program, in which children track the books they read over the summer and receive rewards for reaching various levels of pages read.
In addition to providing rewards for reaching different levels of reading, the library offers more than 60 summer programs that bring children to the library for activities for preschoolers through teenagers, Davis said.
The summer programs go through the end of July, and participants can collect prizes through Aug. 2.
People can register for the Book It! 5K at hooverlibrary.org/bookit. The cost is $20 for ages 14 and younger and $30 for ages 15 and older from April 23 through May 19; and $25 for ages 14 and younger and $25 for ages 15 and older on race day. The story stroll costs $3.
Proceeds go to the Friends of the Hoover Library, which donates money to support a variety of library programs and to buy additional library materials.
