LIHU‘E — Summer vacation has arrived, and that means it’s time to hit the books. Huh? Yes, while the 2009-10 public school year ended this week, right on its heels is the state public libraries’ summer youth reading program, states
LIHU‘E — Summer vacation has arrived, and that means it’s time to hit the books.
Huh?
Yes, while the 2009-10 public school year ended this week, right on its heels is the state public libraries’ summer youth reading program, states a news release.
Programs begin as early as June 1, and keiki who read at least one book a week are eligible for incentive prizes donated by local merchants, once the students register for the various, age-appropriate, summer-reading programs at public libraries from Princeville to Waimea.
Studies show that children and teens who read books for pleasure during the summer months keep their brains active, relaxed and ready for the next school year, which will be here sooner than you think (the end of July or early August in the case of most public schools on the island).
Adults who read books over the summer can improve and recharge their brain power as well, states a release from the Hawai‘i State Public Library System.
Contact your local library for starting dates and guidelines.
The children’s, teen and adult programs are funded by a generous grant from the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i, Marriott Resorts Hawai‘i, Ko Olina Resort and Marina, HMSHost, Meadow Gold Dairies, Hansen Foodservice, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and Hawaiian Telcom.
Corporate and community sponsors include McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Pizza Hut, Frito-Lay of Hawai‘i, Diamond Bakery, First Insurance Company of Hawai‘i, Bess Press, The Islander Group, Mutual Publishing, and local friends chapters.
There will also be special performances featuring artists from the Statewide Cultural Extension Program, and sponsored by the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s Outreach College, Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Children (infants to children entering grade six this fall) have the theme “Make a Splash @ Your Library!”
The program features books and stories designed to encourage young readers to learn about the ocean, aquatic animals, fish, how to protect the coastline, as well as related subjects such as beach activities and water sports.
Participants who read a book a week qualify to win a $50 bookstore gift card, from the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i.
The five-week program will also feature excellent, family-friendly storytelling performances by Robert Faust (“The Mask Messenger”), a nationally-acclaimed mask artist; and local, highly-acclaimed artists such as Nyla Fujii-Babb, James McCarthy, Peter and Melinda Wing, Sandra MacLees, and other special performers.
The teem theme (students entering grade seven through 2010 high school graduates) is “Team Read @ Your Library!”
The dual theme highlights books about sports, athletes, fitness and the suspense-romance themes featuring the popular “Twilight Saga” vampire novels by Stephenie Meyer and the debut of the movie adaptation of Meyer’s “Eclipse” (third book in the Twilight saga) which opens in theaters in June.
Teens can enter in-branch prize drawings for a chance to win Apple iPod Shuffles, courtesy of the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i, and regional electronic prizes and personal pan pizza certificates provided by Hawai‘i Pizza Hut.
In addition to the reading program, selected libraries will host performances by Faust; Kealoha, a highly-acclaimed slam poet; cartoonist Dave Thorne; and Yukie Shiroma, an Okinawan classical dancer and choreographer.
The adult theme (patrons 18 and older) is “Exercise Your Mind @ Your Library.”
The theme features books about sports, fitness, martial arts, biographies of athletes, yoga, meditation, relaxation and stress-management techniques, and mind exercises such as puzzles, sudoku, model-building, studying foreign languages and learning musical instruments.
Visit www.librarieshawaii.org or call your local library for more information.
