ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Libraries in central Baldwin County will be full of “Tails and Tales” this summer when they host their annual summer reading programs beginning this week.
“Tails and Tales” is the theme for both the Robertsdale and Loxley public libraries summer reading programs.
Robertsdale
The Robertsdale Public Library, located at 18301 Pennsylvania St., will host a kickoff event beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 9 at the library.
Library Director Cynthia Nall and staff will be handing out free ice cream and treats. Participants will also receive a free bag, book mark and reading log when they register to sign up for the library’s summer reading program.
Each participant will receive a reading log where they can write down all the books they read and bring it back to the library. Participants will receive a prize each week when they show their reading logs to the librarian.
Participants will also be able to sign up for the “Reading with the Dogs” program, featuring resident library canine Gracie, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever, and her friends, Max, a 5-year-old German Shepard, and Dozier, a 7-year-old German Shepard.
Participants can sign up to earn prizes for reading with the dogs.
Special performances will be held during the month of June beginning at 10 a.m. at the PZK Hall on Alabama 104 (Silverhill Avenue) beginning with a Wild West Show on June 16.
Cowboy Bruce Brannen invites audiences to take a trip back in time with stories and trick roping, cowboy poetry and the art of bullwhip demonstrations.
June 23 will feature Animal Tales. Participants will learn about different exotic animals and how they use them.
June 30 will feature Freedom Ranch, a non-profit organization that provides education, inspiration and adventure with live animals. A majority of these wildlife ambassadors feature non-releasable or discarded pets.
For more information call the Robertsdale Public Library at 251-947-8960.
Loxley
The Loxley Public Library, located at 1001 E. Loxley Ave., also kicked off its summer reading program this week, with weekly programs beginning at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the library.
Programs feature readings from author Sandra Markle’s “What if You Had” series beginning with “What if you had animal tails?” on June 8. Other featured books include “What if you had animal feet?” “What if you had animal teeth and What if you had animal tongue?” “What if you had animal ears?” “What if you had animal eyes?” “What if you had animal hair?” and “What if you had an animal nose?”
After June 8, all books will be in random order, except for “What if you had animal hair?” will be featured on June 29 with special guest speaker Thomas Harris from the Alabama Department of Conservation.
Other programs will also be held throughout the summer with special guest speakers from around the community, said Library Director Patty Hudson.
There will also be readings from other nonfiction and fiction books that have some of the characters featured in the “What If You Had” stories, Hudson said.
The program will also feature some props, activities and crafts to help participants remember what they are learning, including a replica of a colossal squid, which will stretch from the library door all the way to be back of the library; a soccer ball to show its eye size, and participants will get the opportunity to make life size squid eyes using 12-inch paper plats and black circles for the pupils.
The library will also house a life-size mouth of a Bengal tiger and a life-size elephant head and ears.
Participants will also receive snacks to take home which will be in keeping with the animal theme, Hudson said, including Goldfish and Animal Crackers.
The weekly programs will be geared to boys and girls ages 4 through 12, but there will also be Book Bingo which participants will be able to take and do at home, featuring three different programs for age groups from younger groups (entering third grade and below), to middle age groups (fourth through eighth grade) and teens and adults (ninth grade and up).
“We like to have older children and adults participate as much as possible and we do get a few,” Hudson said. “I think if the younger children see them reading and have teens and adults read to them that is certainly a plus in their development.”
Cards featuring 25 squares (five rows of five squares each) are handed out at the beginning of the program and as participants complete a task indicated in the Bingo square, they can color in that square.
When they complete a row of squares, either vertically, horizontally or diagonally, they can bring in their square to receive a small prize. Each participant is limited to five prizes.
Loxley’s program runs through Tuesday, July 27. A closing event will be held, featuring certificates for each participants and drawings for various prizes.
The Loxley Public Library welcomes donations from local businesses or residents to help with the summer reading program, including prizes or financial contributions.
For more information call the library at 251-964-5695 or email loxleylibrary@yahoo.com.
