This year’s Summer Reading program will run from June 21st to August 19th. The “Tales and Tails” theme means a focus on all things animals! To celebrate, we’ll have special programming all Summer long, ending with a chance to party your tail off at our Summer Reading End Games on August 19th!
Summer Programming
1) Book Buddies! (Ages Birth-18): Looking for a furry friend to read with? Adopt a Book Buddy from the Derby Neck Library! Request a Book Bundle of 3 books or more and you’ll get to choose from a monkey, an owl, a tiger, a penguin, and many others to bring home with you. All of our Book Buddies come with a special commemorative Tails & Tales pin and love to read. Fill out this form to adopt your new friend today, and learn about our weekly Book Buddy Battles here!2) B.A.R.K. Be a Reading Kid (Ages Birth-18): It’s the return of the B.A.R.K. program! We are so excited to welcome certified therapy dogs Spirit and Brian back to the Derby Neck Library. Both pups love children and are fantastic listeners. Reading aloud to a dog provides an attentive audience and may boost a child’s confidence in their reading skills. Each participant will receive a commemorative photo of themselves with the dogs, as well as an experience they won’t soon forget!
3) Tales and Tails with Scales! (All Ages): Join Teralyn, the Education Director of Riverside Reptiles, as she introduces you to the different animals that call RREC home. She is excited to teach you about our exotic animals through this virtual learning experience…all from the comfort of your own home! Just like you, each animal has a story. Get ready! It’s going to be a scaly ride!
4) Zoom Pet Parade! (Ages Birth-18): Here’s a chance to bring all of our pets together for a grand show! Log in at any point during the hour to show off your pet, a photo of your pet, or your favorite stuffed animal. Everyone will have a chance to talk about their pet and ask questions of others. Four legs, two legs, fins, wings, scales, all are welcome! You’ll get points in READsquared and a badge for attending, but you will also get extra points if you can “tie your tail to tale”–for example: “My dog Fluffernutter is just like Rip Van Winkle because he loves to sleep!”5) Sidewalk Arts (Ages 3+): Between July 1st and July 3rd, youth of all ages are invited to decorate the sidewalk leading up to the library. To take part, call the library during open hours to get a square number to work with, then stop by any time you’d like to decorate it! Fill in as much or as little of your square as you wish! Need chalk? Ask us during open hours, or borrow some from the bin by the side entrance. There’s also a contest for each age group for the most imaginative chalk drawing under the theme of Tails and Tales, for example Romeo and Drooliet! Entries must be completed by 3:00pm on July 3rd to be considered. Come help us make the library sidewalk into one big collaborative masterpiece!
6) Let’s Chalk About It! (Ages 3+): If you think sidewalk chalk is just a ho-hum childhood pastime, think again! Join us outside on our front stoop to learn some chalk drawing and painting techniques and help Miss Sarah finish her mural. Together we’ll make sidewalk chalk and chalk paint and then use what we’ve learned to create an amazing piece of art. After the program, be sure to stick around to use what you learned in the Sidewalk Arts at Derby Neck event and win a prize!
7) Tell Me a Story with Miss Krissy (All Ages): Miss Krissy will share an animal story on our Facebook page every Monday evening in July at 7:00pm! Storytelling is as old as humanity itself. Storytellers use their faces, bodies, and voice to tell a story without the help of a book. Join us for a unique performance you won’t forget!
8) Hooked on Llamas! (All Ages): Who isn’t hooked on llamas? Join us for a special storytime with Debbie Labbe of Country Quilt Llama Farm where you’ll get to touch a real llama! Debbie will also share large photos to explain the many uses of llamas, along with llama fiber products for the children to see and touch. The program will wrap up with a Q&A, and opportunities to check out books on llamas and other tales and tails!
9) Nocturnal Animals! (All Ages): Things that go bump in the night might just be some of the most interesting animals of all! Join us with the Stamford Museum and Nature Center to discover the world of night animals and explore how their tools and behaviors help them do their jobs under the cover of darkness. From excellent hearing to silent flight, we’ll explore some of the best nocturnal adaptations and meet some live members of the “night crew.”
10) Summer Reading 2021 End Games (All Ages): You’ve read so many books and attended our events all Summer long, so now it’s time to party your tail off and celebrate the end of Summer Reading 2021! This all-ages, in-person event will be held in our garden. Come spend your raffle tickets on treats, games, crafts, and more, including a chance to SUPER-SOAK THE STAFF! You’ll get an extra raffle ticket just for attending, as well as the opportunity to check out more books to get even more raffle tickets! You’ll want to come wearing your bathing suit, because we’ll have splash pools, sprinklers, and a HUGE water balloon fight! We’ll finish off the party by picking the winners of our Experience Baskets, packed with games, treats, gift certificates, and more!
Points
- Books you log earn you 100 points
- Events you attend earn you 50 points
- Every 150 points earns you 1 raffle ticket!
Please keep an eye on our website calendar to learn more and see what else we’ve got planned! We’ll be keeping you posted on our weekly newsletters as well, so make sure you’ve signed up for our mailing list!
Have a fun and WILD Summer!