Library celebrates start of summer reading

Published 12:24 pm Friday, June 1, 2018

By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Chilton/ Clanton Public Library kicked off its summer reading program with fun activities on June 1.

Children enjoyed face painting and “fishing” for candy.

“The activities they have planned sound interesting,” parent Missy Price said.

She said the summer reading program was an opportunity to encourage her daughter and nephews to enjoy reading.

“Last year, we did it, and it was really fun,” Kinzlee Price, Missy Price’s daughter, said.

Kinzlee said she enjoyed reading books about Disney princesses. Her favorite is Cinderella.

Library director Savannah Kitchens said she was excited to have some local favorites and some new guests coming to the library as a part of the program. Activities are scheduled for 2 p.m. each Tuesday in June. Guests will include Josie the Storyteller (June 5), Mark Seymour’s Music Extravaganza (June 12) and Cain the Magic Guy (June 19).

Kitchens said she is also excited about the library hosting a teen summer reading program for the first time.

Jayden Session enjoyed the candy at the kick-off event and said he was looking forward to the LEGO events each Thursday.

Jayden said he enjoyed reading the “Who Was” historical biography series.

Julia Mims said she wanted her son Joel to participate to encourage him to continue reading.

The Rigsby family are frequent visitors to the library, coming two to three times a week.

“I just love all kinds of fiction,” Reese Rigsby said.

Right now, he is on the second book in the Harry Potter series.  He said the summer reading program is fun.

Each time a child or teen checks out of the library, their name is entered into a drawing for a Kindle Fire e-reader.

Jemison, Maplesville and Clanton libraries are participating. The drawing for the Kindle Fire at Jemison will be June 27 at 10 a.m. The drawing for the Kindle Fire at Maplesville will be June 28 at 10 a.m. The drawing for the Kindle Fire at Clanton will be July 10 at 2 p.m.

The teen prize will be a gift card to 2nd & Charles, a bookstore in Hoover, and will be drawn at the library’s Clanton location on July 10.

Students zero to five can participate in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Those who have 50 books read to them will win a prize.