Summer Reading Game Kicks Off with Circus Performance at Scarsdale Library

The Scarsdale Public Library's widely popular annual Summer Reading Game kicks off on Friday, June 27, between 11 a.m. and noon with a performance by the National Circus, a center ring extravaganza packing a panoramic presentation of circus skills into a bundle of comedy and variety routines with audience interaction and participation. The theme this year is Science Circus.

The Summer Reading Game encourages children from infants through 4th grade to read or be read to during the summer months. Awards are given based on the number of books read or listened to. After two books, the participating children receive a sticker, after five books, they can dig into the "Treasure Chest" for a fun prize and after 20 books they receive a book. As an incentive to come to the library, children will receive a raffle ticket each visit for a drawing for day passes to WeeZee World of Chappaqua, a play, fitness and learning facility for children 0 to 12 of all abilities. WeeZee is also donating toys for prizes

"When the children come to the library, we like to have them discuss the books they have read with a librarian or have someone read a book to them," says Karen Zielinski, head of Youth Services. "The program has also become family event with older children reading to their younger siblings."
Online registration begins on June 27. Parents or children should go to the library website, www.scarsdalelibrary.org, and click on the Summer Reading Program link.

Last year, 317 children participated in the program. They read a total of 6,899 books, just shy of 22 per child. In 2012, 267 children read 4,799 books, or about 18 per child.