A Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) program that encourages young people to read also gives them a taste of authorship by allowing them to create and post their own stories online.
Participants in the Summer Reading Club program can join by visiting their local library.
About 3,000 have signed up with the program so far at the three Abbotsford libraries – Clearbrook, Abbotsford Community, and Mt. Lehman.
Signup will continue throughout the summer.
Kids, teens and adults are asked to read every day for 15 minutes or more, and to keep track of their reading.
After each week of consistent reading, participants may stop by the nearest library for a sticker and to be entered into the weekly prize draws.
After seven weeks of reading throughout the summer, participants will receive a medal and take part in final prize draws.
There are no reading lists or scheduled club meetings to attend.
This year’s theme is “book a trip.”
Younger readers have the option of going online at http://bcsrc.ca/ to create their own travel adventure stories using three colourful characters – Fixxer The Polar Bear, Caboodle Cogsworth the Travel Bug or Amelia Squirrelheart the Flying Squirrel.
Further to the theme, readers who are traveling over the summer are encouraged to send a postcard to their local library.
The youngest readers can participate in the Read to Me program for infants to preschool children. Little ones receive stickers as parents keep track of the reading they do with their child.
The Kids club is for K-Grade 6, and the Teens club is for Grade 7-12, and they can read any material they enjoy.
Adults can record daily reading as well, whether it’s a novel they have on-the-go or the latest issue of The News.
There is also an accessible Summer Reading Club that provides ebook and audiobook formats to better serve readers with perceptual disabilities.
Local Summer Reading club events include a visit by magician The Great Gordini on Tuesday, July 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Abbotsford Community library at 33355 Bevan Ave.
On Monday, July 25 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., the Reading Club at the Abbotsford Community branch hosts the Vancouver Aquarium’s AquaZone.
Participants will explore artifacts to learn about the feeding habits of animals living on land and in the ocean in Canada’s North to see how the connection between animals, environments and people in the Arctic is changing.
On Thursday, Aug. 11, musician Chris Hamilton will perform for the Reading Club at the Abbotsford Community branch from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. His songs for kids tell tales of real and imaginary places and spaces.
On Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. the Abbotsford Community branch will host Andy the Musical Scientist who creates instruments out of recycled items. His show features world music and humor along with a pro-recycling message.
For more information, phone the Abbotsford library at 604-853-1753.