Summer reading program ends with a splash

This year’s summer reading program at the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library certainly made a splash with local children.

More than 400 kids completed the program, reading numerous books during their break from school. Those who did were invited to one of two performances.

On Aug. 17, Darlene Graham presented “Music and Dance Under the Sea.” Her program, for infants through children entering kindergarten, corresponded with the summer reading program theme, “Make a Splash at Your Library.” She wowed the children with her bubble machine and kids enjoyed popping the bubbles.

The following day, Lou Johnson hosted two magic and juggling performances for children in grades 1-6. He dazzled the kids with plate spinning, yo-yo tricks and rope magic.

Children’s Librarian Jaclyn Kunz said the number of children who completed the program was up about 25 from last year. “It was a pretty successful summer,” she said.

Pre-school kids had to have completed 18 books to come to one of the final performances, and children in grades K-2 had to finish 12 books. They also could have had their parents read to them. Seven-year-old Kaitlyn Gavin, though, read her books on her own. “I liked them all,” she said.

She came to the magic show with her sister, Ashley, 9, to celebrate their reading accomplishment. Kaitlyn said she got her summer reading material right from the Valley Stream library.

Children entering grades 3-6 had to complete six books this summer. Kunz said that books for the older children are longer which is why they had to read fewer than the younger groups. “We want them to be reading at their level,” she said, “so they don’t lose what they learned the previous year.”

Brandon Lee, 8, who will be a third-grader at Wheeler Avenue School, completed his reading. His favorite book this summer was “Charlotte’s Web” and found it to be an interesting tale. “Reading is fun,” he said. “I read every day, pretty much.”

His classmate, Lance Lampert, 8, also read throughout the summer. Two of his favorite stories were “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Time Machine,” books that his mother gave him. “I thought I wouldn’t like them but they were actually really good,” he said.

Lance said he had never read books more than a hundred pages, so this was he first time reading longer stories. He said he took it chapter by chapter. But he said he loves reading, so it wasn’t a difficult challenge. “Once you’re reading,” he said, “you just can’t get away.”

The name of every child who completed the summer reading program was written on a paper fish, whale or sea horse and taped the window of the children’s room — all 409 kids. They also received a packet with a certificate of achievement, stickers, coupons for restaurants and two weeks of free karate lessons.

In the young adult department, 53 teens completed the summer reading program. They had to read three books each. Young Adult Librarian Faith Kenney said between all the participants, they read 250 books this summer. “Most of them read more than three,” she said. “We had a couple that read more than 10.”

Kenney noted that the requirement was only three because young adult books tend to range from 350 to 400 pages, or longer. The teens also had to write a short review about each book and say whether or not they would recommend it to others.

Library Director Mamie Eng said she credits the increase in participation to the economy and the excessive heat this summer. She noted that many children and teens wanted to spend some time in the air conditioning with a book.

She noted that the beach theme was also a hit with the children. Activities throughout the summer were theme-related, Eng said. Children participated in craft activities about the beach, and could guess how many goldfish — the snack food — sea shells and sea beads were in a jar. Word puzzles and mazes also related to the beach and the ocean. “It was a theme that was identifiable with kids,” she said, “so that helped.”