San Leandro's Summer Reading Program: Read Books, Get Cool Prizes

Mayor Stephen Cassidy and the San Leandro City Council announced that the Library will soon be launching its free summer reading program, Fizz Boom Read!  

As part of the program, kids of all ages who participate will be able to earn prizes and other incentives for reading, making it a great way to stay engaged in reading and learning over the summer.

"Experts agree that children who read during the summer improve their reading skills, while those who do not continue reading often lose valuable skills that were acquired during the school year," said Mayor Cassidy.  "Our library is committed to supporting lifelong learning and educational enrichment for our families, and the summer reading program offers a great opportunity to students to extend their learning," added Library Director Theresa Mallon.

The 2014 Summer Reading Program is set to run from Monday, June 9 to Friday, August 8, 2014.  As part of the program, families with babies and toddlers can read aloud to their little ones to earn a free board book. 

Kids in preschool through sixth grade can earn fun prizes for reading and writing short reports, along with a free Mini Murph pizza from Papa Murphy's, as well as admission coupons to various Bay Area museums. Kids who read and provide reports on eight books over the nine week program also will earn an exclusive invitation to the Library's end-of-summer carnival on Saturday, August 9. This exciting event will feature games, entertainment, and a petting zoo. 

Teens entering grades 7-12 also are encouraged to join the teen summer reading program, where they may earn points for each book they read to use at the teens-only prize board. 

The San Leandro Public Library also will host a range of other free activities for children and teens that encourage them to read and explore science, from a family science program with the American Chemical Society, to a LEGO building program, as well as special "discover science" story-times. Through these programs, teens will be able to learn about forensic science, try their hand at daring science experiments, and have fun with some Do It Yourself crafts.

Registration begins on Monday, June 9 at the San Leandro Main Library and the three branch libraries. The Library encourages kids of all abilities to join. For more information, please contact the library at 510-577-3960or visit their website at www.sanleandrolibrary.org.

—Information submitted by City of San Leandro