Readers Make a Splash

Children anxiously waited their turn at the counter of the Children's Library of Edith Wheeler Memorial Library while participating in the summer reading program Friday afternoon.

Kay Inderdohnen, children's services librarian, doled out free passes to swim at Wolfe Park's pool, certificates for ice cream cones at McDonald's and colorful bookmarks to participants for reading a designated number of hours.

Each child also earned raffle tickets for gift baskets donated by area businesses.

Eleanor Schrader brought her two grandchildren Ella Gail, 4, and Gretchen Mary Bonovsky, 9.

"They were excited," Schrader said of the ride over. "They couldn't wait to come back."

"I think it's so well organized," she added. "There are so many incentives. The prizes are quite an incentive - even the fun bookmarkers."

Children's Librarian Adrienne Wilson said 671 young readers participated last summer, and "at least" 600 already signed up this year.

"We don't tell them what to read," Wilson said, "as long as they're reading."

But this isn't the only age group cracking book bindings, flipping through magazines and comic books and unfolding newspapers.

Wilson said the Teen Library summer reading program had first started last year and adding, "This is the very first year we ever did an adult reading program."

Participants in the Water Your Mind Read adult program simply read a book, then send their e-mailed review to the reference librarians to be entered into a raffle for adult baskets.

"They're coming in all the time," Wilson said of the e-mails. "I wondered, 'How are they keeping up with this?'"

The reading program began on June 19, and those who signed up within the first two weeks were entered to win a giant Costco grilling basket. The adult program ends on Aug. 13.

The Teen reading theme is Make Waves at Your Library and the children's theme is Make a Splash Read.

Make a Splash

Preschoolers - whose parents can read to them - up to students in grade 6 are eligible for Make a Splash Read. Those who will be in grade 7 in the fall should sign up for the teen program.

Children's summer reading kit includes a reading log, bookmark, brochure and other "goodies."

Participants come to the library once a week and collect a prize and a raffle ticket for every hour they've read. Each child can win up to eight prizes over the summer.

Raffles are every Friday until Aug. 6 and winners are notified by phone.

Everyone who turns in their reading log on or before Aug. 24 (the end of the program) receives a free pass to the Shelton Sports Center.

Logs with the name of the child's school written on it will be sent to their school when the program ends.

Make Waves

Registration start up bags for teens in the Make Waves at Your Library program includes Make Waves post it notes and a bookmark, a Read tattoo, a reading log, and coupons to Athletic Sports & Outdoors, Sports Center of Connecticut and Dr. Mike's Ice Cream.

Teenagers earn a raffle ticket for every three hours they read and a complimentary pass to Skatetime for every six hours.

The weekly raffles earn $20 to $25 gift certificates to  Dunkin Donuts, Cycle Fitness, Linda's Storytime, Last Drop Coffee Shop, McGowan's Pizza, Bill's Drive-In and Sports Center of Connecticut.

Those who participate once a week for the entire program win a Make Waves tote bag, a Read patch and a $25 gift certificate to either Sports Center of Connecticut or Athletic Sports & Outdoors of Shelton.

The Grand Prize is a 12-person laser tag party at Sports Center of Connecticut. Every ticket for three hours of reading will be entered into this raffle. The drawing will be at the End of Summer Reading Party. Readers must be present to win.

Anyone can sign up for one of the three reading programs right up to the end. There is no cost to register.

"That's the great thing about the library summer reading," Wilson said. "Everything is free."

The sponsors

Sponsors of the library's summer reading programs include:

Chuck E. Cheese

Athletic Sports & Outdoors

Sports Look

Cold Stone Creamery

Uno Chicago Grill of Milford

Bridgeport Bluefish

Sports Center of Connecticut

William E. Wolfe Park

Rita's Ice of Bridgeport

Sal's Family Restaurant & Pizza

Jennie's Pizzaria Inc.

Costco Wholesale

Quassy Amusement Park

Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism

B-Sweet Treats serving Dr. Mike's Ice Cream

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Skatetime

Monroe AYSO

Linda's Story Time

McDonald's of Monroe

Choice Pet Supply of Monroe

Cycle Fitness