Parents looking for a way to keep their children engaged in reading over the summer can check out the B.C. Summer Reading Club, offered online and through the Prince George Public Library.
Last year 63,758 children, aged five to 14, from 200 communities across B.C. took part in the program, which is funded by the B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and CUPE BC. The program encourages kids to read daily and track their progress to earn digital badges and enter to win prizes. Last year, participating kids tracked 209,610 reading entries online.
"For more than 30 years, the BC Summer Reading Club has worked with local public libraries to bring an engaging, interactive and inclusive literacy program to children and their families throughout the province," B.C. Library Association executive director Rina Hadziev said in a statement issued on Monday. "This program has become a tradition and a summer highlight for many families, and we're always thrilled to hear the wonderful ways it meaningfully impacts them."
The Prince George Public Library is hosting its first weekly B.C. Summer Reading Club event for children aged five to nine on July 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Nechako branch located at 6547 Hart Highway. The event is a free, drop-in event with no registration necessary.
This year's theme for the program is All Together Now, featuring artwork by B.C. illustrator and video game artist Elaine Chen.
"This year our theme, All Together Now, is centred around community-building and connections, and features the beautiful artwork of Vancouver-based illustrator Elaine Chen,” BC Summer Reading Club co-ordinator Stephanie Usher said in a statement released Monday. “We're excited to share weekly online activities and contests starting on Monday, July 4, including a free virtual Ask Me Anything Event with Elaine in her role as this year's BC Summer Reading Club Artist."
For more information or to sign up for the online, visit the BC Summer Reading Program’s website.
