The Oakland Public Library invites Oakland’s youth to “Be Creative @ Your Library” this summer. That’s the theme of the 2009 Summer Reading Program, a chance for young bookworms, ages 13 and under, to read their way to great prizes starting June 13 and running though August 9, 2009. Kids, ages 13 and under, are encouraged to visit one of our branches, the bookmobile, or the Main Library’s Children’s Room to sign up and start reading. (Pre-readers can participate by having someone read to them.) Prizes include books and tickets to some of Oakland’s hottest attractions.
The Summer Reading Program kicked off with a splash on June 13th.
Kids design their own masterpieces at jewelry making workshops with Chelsee Robinson.
The Summer Reading Program is a fun way to encourage kids to maintain their reading skills over the summer. Children may read anything they want for the program, so they can develop their own interests and a love of reading. Numerous studies have found that children who select books for themselves, and participate in reading as a leisure activity, improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, and writing skills.
To entice young people to use Oakland’s libraries, we’ve lined up a summer’s worth of free events featuring live animals, puppet shows, storytelling, music, magic, comedy, arts and crafts, and more.
Get wrapped up in Summer Reading with your own snake scarf at an East Bay Vivarium live reptile show!
The Summer Reading Program wraps up with a grand finale.
On Sunday, August 9th more than 600 people played with blocks, made masks, listened to stories, watched magic, had their faces painted, hunted for clues, danced, learned how to cartoon, and ate popsicles at the fifth annual end of summer reading celebration at the Oakland Museum. Children who completed the Summer Reading Program were honored in a special ceremony. It was a beautiful day out in the Museum Gardens.
Sponsors of the 2009 Summer Reading Program include The Stocker Foundation, Alameda/Oakland Ferry Service, California Academy of Sciences, Chabot Space & Science Center, Children’s Fairyland, Renaissance Rialto Theaters (Grand Lake Theater), Hometown Buffet, Lawrence Hall of Science, Oakland A’s Baseball Team, Oakland Ice Center, Oakland Museum of California, Round Table Pizza, Zeum, MOChA (Museum of Children’s Art) and the Friends of the Oakland Public Library.
