Summer is here, and with that, local librarians are working tirelessly to ensure students aren’t letting their “minds go to mush” while school isn’t in session.
From July to August, kids in the Verde Valley can participate in this year’s free summer reading program at the Cottonwood, Camp Verde and Clarkdale libraries. This year’s theme, Tails and Tales, aims to teach kids about animals in various stories, fables, myths and legends through a variety of activities and storytelling.
Camp Verde’s summer reading program was kicked off June 3 with an hour-long event hosted by “Cowgirl Jan,” which included a storytime, magic tricks, puppets and songs.
Camp Verde Community Library Children’s Librarian Leticia Ancira said the library will be offering a multitude of activities, including storytimes, movies, a star party and an owl encounter. Participants have the opportunity to earn Arizona State Park passes and the event will conclude with a celebratory pool party at the Camp Verde Heritage Pool.
The Clarkdale summer reading program will kick off June 18 in the Main Town Park at 6:30 p.m. where it plans to have animals from the Verde Valley Humane Society, a poem station, coloring and crafts, and music by Dave Rentz.
Over at the Cottonwood Public Library, Teen Services Lead Jan Marc Quisumbing said interested participants can register online and download an app to track their reading minutes.
The library will be hosting a number of events, both in person and virtual, including an event at the Verde Valley Humane Society where kids can play with the dogs and cats at the shelter.
Not only can kids earn points through reading, but Quisumbing said they can volunteer or participate in a number of other activities to earn points that will go toward winning prizes at the end of the event, when the 20 kids with the most points can choose from a list of prizes, including a Pink Jeep tour and an original Dennis the Menace drawing.
He said this year’s event is set to be even more exciting than the previous year now that COVID-19 regulations are lifting.
“This year is a little bit more organized in the sense that we know we’re going to have a summer reading program,” he said. “We have planned for it as best as we can. Last time it was like, ‘Are we open? Are we not open? We are open.’”
Local librarians tout many benefits summer reading can have on kids.
“Research shows that reading over the summer maintains or improves reading skills,” Ancira said. “[It] helps students to be ready for the next school year.”
Quisumbing said while he understands a lot of kids don’t want to spend their summer break reading, it can help them keep their minds sharp while they’re not in school.
“It encourages reading over the summer because that’s usually when kids’ minds go to mush,” he said. “It’s a great way to build your vocabulary, especially if you’re not a strong reader. … It’s just practice, practice, practice. The more you do something, the more it gets easier.”
Elsy Marquez signed up her 9-year-old twins, Jessica and Ester Marquez, for the Camp Verde summer reading program for the second time this year. She said her daughters enjoyed last year, despite having to do all of the activities from home, and are looking forward to participating in person this year.
Marquez said she appreciates the program as a more productive alternative to other activities her kids could be doing while out of school.
“It keeps them busy at home, too, and it’s something for them to do while they’re home instead of watching TV the whole time,” she said.
To sign up for the Tales and Tails summer reading program, visit your local library in person or register online at any of the participating libraries’ websites
