Dig Into Reading

On Wednesday, July 10, we went to the Manheim Township Public Library. The first stop was to hand in the younger two boys' summer reading sheets. The theme this year was "Dig Into Reading" and if the boys read (was it 30?) books - or listened to them if they were under the age of 5 when the program started - then they could color in the pictures on the back of the paper (and I wrote the names of books and their authors on the front) and we could turn it in for prizes. The prizes were basically the same as last year - a free McDonald's ice cream cone coupon, a free ticket to the Strasburg Railraod with paying adult, and a free lawn seat to the Barnstormer's summer reading games. They also got a little prize with it - a frog or something plastic for Ryan and something for Caleb that I don't remember now.

I think the program is great! It gives us a reason to keep reading and going to the library to borrow new books. We have truly enjoyed some of the new ones we read this year (the boys still giggle about "Mrs. McNosh" hanging up her wash). Mommy has cried at some and we've laughed at others. We love reading!

Ryan even helped color some of his own paper this year (and the boys helped him). His list of books we read was a little different than his older brothers as I tried to get them each age-appropriate books.

Joshua was in the older program this year. His list of things to do included attaching a favorite family recipe, taking a picture near a construction site (could be something he built), getting a new library card, reading aloud to someone, having someone read out loud to him, going online to hear a book, drawing a dinosaur and naming it, (and maybe a few other things I'm forgetting here?) and then reading in 15-minute increments (20-25 times?) to get his prizes. He hadn't finished by this date in July, but we went back on July 31 to get his, when he had completed all his individual reading. His prizes included a few more things like a ticket to Dutch Wonderland (which I don't think we'll get to use, unfortunately), the kingdom barn (which I don't know what that is) and a couple other coupons like buy one get one free stuff.

Since Caleb had just turned five, he also wanted to sign up for his very own library card (to be like big brother). In the picture above, he is signing his name, promising to return his books on time.

After handing in the forms and getting Caleb's library card, we went to story time. All three boys highly enjoyed it. Ryan especially loved it this time and participated with his big brothers, who were very good examples for him.

They love the song and dance time!

And they enjoy playing "a boom chicka-boom!"

The theme was on dinosaurs, and Ryan ROARED (as everyone giggled at him - he was SO cute!). The song on the chicken laying an egg became the dinosaur laying the egg then.

We have all the books that they read, but it was still a fun time. I love these events!

Here was the list of Joshua's things he completed.

And here was my boy, all smiles from finally finishing all his reading!

This was the dinosaur he drew. It was a "Luigi-long neck."

They enjoyed their ice cream cones, but we still need to do the rest of the items (or as many as we can before summer ends). Either way, the reading was fun and the idea of giving kids incentives to read is great!