Aaron Chatha

Multimedia Journalist

Registration for the Summer Reading Program at the Strathmore Library opened last week, giving kids a chance to open their imaginations with the power of books this summer. Imagination and fantasy are also the theme for this year's program.

"The program gives kids a fun way to read books throughout the summer," Kristine Deisman, one of the program coordinators, said. "Also, when a lot of kids finish school in June, they tend to lose access to the library they're in every single week.

"This way, they're still coming in, picking out a book and getting to do something fun. Reading is one of the most important skills to have when they go back to school in September."

The program begins July 3 and runs until August 24, with a variation of the theme every week. Weekly topics will include: pirate princesses, monster, mythology, fairytales, superheroes and a week called I just want to be a...

"So, the kids have to imagine themselves as a character in a book or another world," Janine Owl Child, program coordinator, said.

The program goes beyond just books as well, as kids will also be involved in crafts, puppet plays and skits, all relating to the theme, over the summer during the scheduled times for each age group, to keep things fresh and exciting.

The kids will each have a reading log which they will fill out every time they read, and there will be prizes for reading as an extra incentive. The program coordinators have created a board game, where meeting a reading goal means that kids can move their piece ahead a square on the board. Reading goals vary for different age groups. For example, for kids in kindergarten to Grade 2, reading for five minutes allows them to move ahead a space. For grades 3 - 5, it's 15 minutes.

The kids will have a selection of books to pull from depending on the topic, and will learn more while at the library as well. During fairy tales week, they'll compare newer fairy tales to their original versions, as well as hear fairy tales from all over the world.

During Heritage Days, an aboriginal elder will come in to talk to the kids and tell them stories from this land's native people.

"It gives them something to do each week," Deisman said. "When I was a kid, I used to forget what day it was, because nothing changed (during the summer)."

"It's a fun way to continue with their reading, continue to practice reading and it gives them a chance to do something creative with their summer," Owl Child explained.