The New Brunswick Public Library's free summer reading club allows kids to keep their reading skills fresh

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It is extremely important for school aged children to continue to read during the summer months, especially beginners. By not reading for ten weeks, children run the risk of falling behind in September.

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Joining a summer reading club can be a greatboredom-buster during the summer months, as wellas a way to keep reading skills up to par.

Making reading something that your children want to do over the summer can be a challenge, but once again, the Riverview Public Library is offering a fun way of encouraging children to keep reading.

"What's bubbling at the Library?" is the question of this summer's reading club, its theme being science and all the fun that can be had with it. The summer reading club has become a yearly tradition offered by the province's libraries and bookmobiles. Exploring a new theme every summer and offering plenty of entertaining activities.

Of course, the person who is probably the most excited about this summer's reading fun is Ashley McRae, the enthusiastic coordinator of this summer's reading club which is open to all children and free of charge.

Registration runs from June 23 until August 20. Upon registration, each child is asked to set a goal for themselves by choosing a specific number of books that he/she intends to read throughout the summer. The number of books is entirely up to the child.

"Reading is not limited to "traditional" books either but includes websites, comic books, magazines and read-along books," says Ashley. "Basically, anything that can be read counts!"

Children are encouraged to set a smaller attainable goal as opposed to a higher, possibly unobtainable goal. After all, it is much easier to read more than planned as opposed to rushing to meet your goal.

"The purpose of the reading club is to encourage children to have fun reading while doing something educational at the library," explains Ashley. "We don't want reading to become a chore this summer."

Once a goal has been set, each child is given a logbook which helps keep track of books read. Every five books read, and/or once the set goal has been met, the child can return to the library with the logbook and have it stamped. At the end of the summer each child receives a certificate for participating.

This summer's activities include puppet shows every second Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., story time activities for kids ages 2 to 6 every Monday and Friday at 10:30 a.m., craft activities every Tuesday at 2 p.m.; activity days every Thursday at 2 p.m. and French story time for children in Grades K to 3 on Mondays at 2 p.m.

"Although French story time is geared towards grades K to 3, older children are certainly welcomed to participate as well," adds Ashley. Of course, with reading the primary focus of this summer's reading club, stories will be read at every craft activity.

"Closing ceremony will be August 21 at the Dan Bohan Center at 2 p.m.," says Ashley. "Activities and crafts planned for that day will be centered on anatomy, ecosystems, bubbles, volcanoes, the sky, insects, robots, space and inventors."

For additional information, you can contact the Riverview Public Library at 387-2108.