Children buzz into library for summer reading program

The Le Mars Public Library's "Catch the Reading Bug!" summer reading program started Monday. As part of the fun children registered to participate in story times and classes at the library. Pictured here in the 4 and 5-year-old session are from left Anna Sullivan, Brenna Dirksen and Kenna Kasel. [Click to enlarge]

Crickets, grasshoppers, mosquitoes, wasps -- all are part of the "Catch the Reading Bug!" summer reading program at Le Mars Public Library.

The six weeks of reading fun started Monday and will run through July 18.

About 200 children are registered to attend story times and fun classes at the library. But that number doesn't include readers in the incentive program who don't attend the classes but do spend the summer reading.

"For every five books they read, they get to pick a prize," said Lisa Vander Sluis, children's librarian in Le Mars. "They're free to read whatever they want."

Vander Sluis estimates 4,300 books will be read this summer. Last year that number was about 4,100.

The "Catch the Reading Bug!" theme will encourage lessons about insects through stories, games, crafts and finger plays, depending on the age of the participants.

On Monday the 3-year-old class read a book where they learned that crickets make sounds by rubbing their wings together. The 4 and 5-year-old class played a memory game with pictures of insects on one side of the card and fun facts on the other.

Parents, who brought their children Monday, said the summer reading program is about more than fun.

"Our daughter takes an active interest in reading," Benji Kasel said. "It's very important that our daughter learn to read at a young age."

By doing that both daughter Kenna, 5, and son Teagen, 3, will have more opportunities and success throughout their lives, Kasel said.

When asked what he liked best to read Teagen said, "I like to read fire trucks," as he looked at at a picture book of them.

Teresa Oetken, who brought her daycare children to Monday's story times, said she tries to bring them every summer. She said it's especially helpful for younger children.

"It will give them an idea of being able to sit and read stories with other kids," Oetken said.

Her daughter, Emily Oetken, who has been attending the summer reading program since she was about 3, will be in fifth grade this fall.

Emily's also participating in the older children's classes this summer. In past years she has enjoyed the crafts and scavenger hunts.

But for Emily the best part isn't reading Nancy Drew, it's "the prizes at the end."

For those in her age group, grades three to five, it's not how many books but rather how many minutes they spend reading.

Sixty minutes a week will mean one prize. They can also do worksheets and give oral book reports to earn more prizes.

Vander Sluis said last year there were about 50 kids in that age group and together they read enough hours for 23 days.

In addition to children's classes, there are also two family nights.

The first program will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 and will feature a beekeeper from Marcus. The second family fun night will be at 6:30 p.m. July 9 when ButterfliZ of Iowa, a Des Moines based group, will teach about butterflies.

"It's to involve the whole family," Vander Sluis said. "It's fun for the kids to invite their family to something fun here at the library."

Although the summer reading program has already begun, Vander Sluis said there are openings in some of the classes and those interested are encouraged to call the library.

"It helps with keeping kids reading throughout the summer, which is really important when they go back to school," Vander Sluis said of the program.

Prizes are the incentive to read and most of them relate to bugs, but some could be coupons for area businesses for items like sweet treats or pizza.

"The more they read, the more prizes they get," Vander Sluis said.