Book lovers unite for summer reading
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN – As summer’s end draws near, many area youngsters will be heading back to school soon. According to Ronan Public Library Director Michelle Fenger, studies show children maintain their reading level, if not increase it, by reading while away from school during the summer. To motivate children to read while away from school, the Ronan Public Library has participated in the nation-wide summer reading program for the past five years.
“The program has steadily increased throughout the years,” Fenger said. “I love it. It’s great fun to see the excited kids put their reading tickets in and talk about the books they are reading.”
This year 281 readers participated, accumulating a total of 6,237 hours. According to Fenger, these numbers are considerably higher since the program began five years ago.
Parents can read to or with their children to accumulate hours for their family and can also read their preferred literature to add points for their family.
“(The annual program is) a great way for parents to get involved with their children,” Fenger added.
The Broughton family read more than 50 books this summer. Parent Robert Broughton says starting his family early with reading has shown an impact already. Son Jacob finished in third place last year at the state spelling bee due to his love of reading.
“All of my kids got straight A’s in school and I believe reading helped them do that,” Robert said. “If you start ‘em young it makes life a lot easier.”
Fellow reader Alexandra Berna said she read so much over the summer that she lost count of how many books, but says her favorite was a story of mystical creatures who gathered at a hidden refuge in the book “Fablehaven” by Brandon Mull.
Children keep logs of how many hours read during the summer months to become eligible to win prizes at the program’s end.
Before the prize giveaway began, Tigerlilly Everett had her head in a comic book as she sat on the park lawn.
“She loves reading,” her mother Tara Everett said. “Over her first grade year her reading grew a lot. I think reading helps them excel.”
Once everyone filled their bellies with cheeseburgers, chips, and cookies, Fenger was surrounded by more than 40 eager children awaiting the prize drawing, which boasted a flower set with seeds, an Easy Bake Oven, and a bicycle donated by Ronan Power Products and the Ronan Telephone Company, the overall grand prize, won by Malech Crist.
All the food was donated by area businesses, and the grand prizes were either donated or bought with grant money.
