The Santa Cruz Public Library's Summer Reading Program 2019 started on June 1 and will end on August 10. We offered programs for kids of all ages all through June and July. Regular programs like storytimes, arts and crafts programs, some STEM/STEAM programs, book clubs, movies and games continued throughout the summer with special programming at all our branches almost everyday through June and July.
 

Audiences were wowed by magicians Perry Yan, Michael Stroud, and Santiago the Magician.
We were educated and entertained by Oliver the Parrot, NorCal Bats, and Jungle James: Reptiles.
Kids and adults sang along and made music with Musical Me, Jose Luis Orozco, the SLV Community Band, James Henry, Composing Together, and Cascada de Flores.
All ages were amazed by Niki Borodi Musical Acrobatics and Coventry & Kalusa.
Audiences enjoyed universal entertainment from Traveling Lantern Theater, Tom Noddy's Bubble Magic, and Fratello Marionettes.
 

Be sure to ask your students about their experiences at the library when you go back to school.
 

 
The Santa Cruz Public Libraries Summer Reading Program is made possible through our partnership with Atlantis Fantasyworld, the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, and the Collaborative Summer Reading Program (CSRP) cslpreads.org  

 

Summer Reading and Summer Slide
 

 

              The focus of the library's Summer Reading Program this year has been on literacy and accessibility. We want everyone to have access to good books to read and we particularly want parents and teachers to encourage kids to read and have fun reading during the summer.
              Research shows that children who read at least 5 books during the summer go back to school at their new grade level. As of August 1 (with 9 more days until we close the books on Summer Reading 2019) 2,770 school age kids (5-18) have enrolled in Summer Reading at Santa Cruz Public Libraries. To date they have read 15,099. That's an average of almost 5 and a half books each! Of course some have read more than that and some have read less and many probably haven't recorded all their reading yet because they are waiting until August 10.
              Every child who reads 5 books this summer will get to choose a new book provided by the Friends of the Library. It is very exciting to see the thoughtful choices they make when choosing their book. They talk over the pros and cons of each title and proudly go off with their new book and usually a stack of library books to read too.
               When you go back to school, please ask your students what they read this summer and maybe share some of your own reading adventures.