From staff reports
L’Observateur

The St. Charles Parish Library is presenting a series of summer reading programs for children, tweens, teens and adults from June 2 through July 26.

The programs encourage children, youth and families to read and maintain reading skills during the summer months. Learning loss can occur during the summer months when children are not as active in educational activities, but this “summer slide,” can be lessened by trips to the library.

“Our Summer Reading Program is a great way to keep reading skills sharp while discovering new books and enjoying family-friendly programs,” St. Charles Parish Library Director Leann Benedict said. “Over the years our summer programs have expanded from focusing on the reading skills of children to developing a love of life-long learning for all ages.”

Prize incentives for completing the programs include gift cards, science kits and iPad2s, made possible through partnerships with Walmart, Valero St. Charles Refinery, Dow, Monsanto and the Friends of the St. Charles Library.

Summer events will feature the performing arts, visual arts, literature, sports and science. For youth up to age 18, a special emphasis will be placed on fun “kitchen science” and other STEM activities that can be repeated at home.

The programs are designed to show children and teens that they can have fun and succeed by reading and to foster self-confidence, creativity and imaginative thinking.

Children who join the “Fizz Boom Read” Summer Reading Program will keep track of how many minutes they read. Completion certificates and library back sacks will be available as a reward to participants who complete the program.

Themed T-shirts and book bags will be available for purchase. Eighteen “robot” Summer Reading mascots will be hidden in local businesses and public offices in St. Charles Parish. Children who find a mascot may bring it to any branch and receive a free T-shirt or book bag.

Events include performances by Johnette Downing, Eric Herman and magician David LeBoeuf. Presentations by Farmer Minor with Datu the Pig, Wetland Express, Ronald McDonald and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Department K-9 dogs will also be featured.

Youth ages 8 – 18 will collect star stickers to fill club cards in the “Spark a Reaction” Summer Reading Club. Stickers will be earned by reading, attending library events and writing book or media reviews.

Themed back sacks will be available as a reward to those who complete the program. Events for tweens and teens include the Andes Climbing Wall, LEGO block parties, dry ice experiments, movie nights, steam punk jewelry making, Cookies and Canvas, solar oven s’mores, glow painting, comics and cartooning classes and a teen lock-in. For information specific to the tween and teen program, visit myscpl.org/teens.

Adults will submit book reviews to participate in the “Literary Elements” Summer Reading Program. Everyone who registers will receive a St. Charles Parish Library notebook and pen set. The library’s first after-hours event for adults will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. June 13 at the St. Charles Parish West Regional Library, 105 Lakewood Dr. in Luling, to kick off the summer reading program for adults.

The summer calendar for adults also includes author visits, craft workshops, movie showings, performances by Blanch Newsome, a visit by Budget Bytes food blogger Beth Moncel and events based on the “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon.

All St. Charles Parish Library events are free and open to the public. Registration in the Summer Reading Program is not necessary to attend events. More information, including a calendar of summer events, can be found at myscpl.org.