Something is waiting for many children each summer, and their parents don’t even know it’s out there. It’s called the “summer slide,” and it describes what happens when young minds sit idle for three months.
As parents approach the summer break, many are thinking about the family vacation, trips to the pool, how to keep children engaged in activities at home, the abrupt changes to everyone’s schedule – and how to juggle it all. What they might not be focusing on is how much educational ground their children could lose during the three-month break from school, particularly when it comes to reading.”
Pick up a reading log.
The Cortez Public Library’s summer reading program runs May 22 – Aug. 19. Kids can pick up reading logs and record every hour they read or that they listen to someone else read. When they reach 8 hours, they go to the library and choose a book. At 32 accrued hours, they get a prize and 64 hours a T-shirt (while supplies last). The reading incentive program is using the national theme, “Every Hero Has a Story.”
The library will host six family entertainment programs on Wednesdays, at 2 p.m., June 3 through July 8. The only show that will start at a different time is the last show on July 8. This show will begin at 5 p.m.
The performers are as follows:
June 3, 2 p.m.: Mr Kneel Hip-Hop for families
June 10, 2 p.m.: Kate O’Kami, puppeteer
June 17, 2 p.m.: Play-Ground Theatre
June 24, 2 p.m.: Don Kirk, storyteller and puppeteer
July 1, 2 p.m.: Hampstead Stage
July 8, 5 p.m.: Indiana Bones
The library also will have prize drawings at the end of the program for six big prizes.
The preschool Storytime program continues every Thursday starting at 10:30 a.m. Older children may join for a craft at 11:15 a.m. The library also offers a summer Storytime at the Cortez Farmers Market every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., during the season, weather permitting.
The Farmers Market Storytime follows the same theme each week as the preschool Storytime.
There’s also a Storytime beginning in July at the First Tuesday Farmers Market at the Cortez City Park. The library’s radio show is starting its third year on KSJD. Go to www.ksjd.org or www.monteloresecc.org to listen to archived shows or tune in at 3:30 p.m. every Sunday on KSJD, 90.5 or 91.5 FM. By attending a Family Entertainment Program, Storytime or listening to the radio program, a child can log in an hour. Children can even listen to books on CD on a family trip and log in time.
The Summer Reading Program is brought to you, at no cost, by Golden Dreams under Onward!, a Legacy Foundation.
The library is at 202 N. Park St. and may be reached by calling 970-565-8117.