On Your Mark! Get Set! And Sign Up for the Summer Reading Program!

As surely as summer means sunny days, late twilights and days by the water, it also means an exciting Summer Reading Program at the Library and the opportunity for kids to read books just for fun. If they read enough books, they can even win books and other prizes as part of the annual Summer Reading Game.

This year, the theme for the Summer Reading Program is “On Your Mark! Get Set … Read!” inviting Pelham children not only to participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor events hosted by the Library, but also, of course, to read. “Come to your air-conditioned library to mosey among the books you were too busy to read during the school year,” says Librarian for Children’s Services Lilly Hecker. “We’ll be happy to help you find the perfect beach or hammock book.”

The Library staff has also been busy preparing interesting book selections for older students as part of the Pelham public schools’ summer reading requirements.

See below for a snapshot of activities for the summer. Full details are under “Children’s Programs” below. On Your Mark … !

The Summer Reading Game Kicks Off on Thursday, June 23
For many Pelham children, it’s not officially summer until the Summer Reading Game begins. It starts as soon as the last class bell rings on Thursday, June 23, and continues through July 31. As always, the Reading Game is open to children in pre-school through grade eight.
Pre-school children can sign up and get a book prize once they have listened to six stories. School-age children get a free book upon reading three age-appropriate books. Kids who read more can get additional prizes from the Treasure Chest, and participants will celebrate at the annual make-your-own-sundae ice cream party on Thursday, August 25, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

To kick off this summer’s program on June 23, master falconer James Eyring will bring a number of raptors to the Library. See a hawk, a kestrel, owls, and falcons in flight, starting at 2:30 p.m.

Engineering A Good Time on Wednesday Afternoons
Every Wednesday afternoon in July, the Library will be hosting a program focused on engineering for kids. Programs will allow kids to build rockets, helicopters and roller coasters. They will even get to make their own ice cream—and, yes, it will be edible!

This series is suitable for children age five and up and will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Registration is required for each session, and, to make this program available to as many kids as possible, children may sign up for no more than two sessions.

If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Time for Fun at the Library
On Tuesdays during July, the Library will be busy with activities, both indoors and out. Whether kids want to play outdoor games from the 1950s, make their own art projects, play with Legos or experiment with Origami, they’ll be able to do so at the Library. The fun begins at 2:30 p.m. and sign-up is not required. Suitable for children age four and up.

Get Ready, Get Set for Great Movies, Too!
On Monday afternoons starting in June and continuing through July, it’s movie time for the whole family at 2:30 p.m. (Please note: the Library is closed Monday, July 4.)
The movies featured this summer all involve sports. They include The Karate Kid, baseball-themed classics A League of Their Own and Field of Dreams and hockey movie The Mighty Ducks.

As with all library activities, you can see these movies for free, and no sign-up is required.

And, of Course, Story Time, But With an Exciting New Addition
The Library’s customary Story Time program continues all summer long at its usual times on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

But this summer, there’s a new version of Story Time at the Library: bilingual Chinese-English Story Time, which will be held every other Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The program begins on June 18 and will introduce children to colors and numbers in Chinese, along with Chinese fairy tales and well-known stories, including The Five Chinese Brothers, Tikki-Tikki-Tembo and a Chinese version of Dr. Seuss’ One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

With so much going on all summer, watch the Bookmark, Library e-newsletter and pelhamlibrary.org for details about library programs on a week-to-week basis, or stop by the Library for a brochure.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Story Time: Tuesdays, for ages 3 – 5, 10:30 – 11 a.m.; Wednesdays, for ages two and under, 10:30 – 11 a.m.
The Library’s Story Time for pre-schoolers continues this summer. Attendance is limited to the first 45 people who sign in, children and caregivers included. A new ticket system will be put into effect soon, replacing the current sign-up system.

Chinese-English Story Time: Every other Saturday, June 18, July 2, 16 and 30; August 13 and 27, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
This program debuts at the Library this summer. Families with children in third grade and younger are welcome. Signup is not required.

Summer Reading Program Kickoff: Thursday, June 23, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m.  
The Summer Reading Program, “On Your Mark, Get Set … Read!”, kicks off with a visit from master falconer James Eyring, who will bring a number of raptors to the Library. This program is for children age five and up.

Monday Afternoon Movies: Mondays, June 27, July 11, 18 and 25, 2:30 p.m. The Karate Kid, June 27: This 1984 classic, starring Pat Morita as Miyagi and Ralph Macchio as Daniel, shows that there’s more to karate than fast-moving hands.
A League of Their Own, July 11: This baseball movie follows the travails of the Rockford Peaches, a team of female baseball players in a professional women’s league during World War II. The team includes Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Rosie O’Donnell, Madonna, and Tom Hanks as their manager.
Field of Dreams, July 18: This 1989 movie is also about baseball, but in a completely different vein. Featuring Kevin Costner as Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella, he follows the mysterious voices telling him to build a baseball field, and yes, the players – members of the disgraced 1919 Chicago Black Sox – do, indeed, show up.
The Mighty Ducks, July 25: When Gordon Bombay, played by Emilio Estevez, is assigned community service after an arrest, his job is to coach a hockey team, the worst in its peewee hockey league. Though reluctant, he not only teaches the team to play but redeems himself in the process.

Engineering for Kids: Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2:30 – 4 p.m.
Children can learn engineering basics during this series of programs.
Straw Rockets, July 6: Learn about aerospace engineering by propelling an ordinary straw into the air.
Rubber-Band Helicopters, July 13: The aerospace theme continues with a program that teaches kids how to build rubber-band helicopters.
Foam Roller Coasters, July 20: Learn about mechanical engineering by building your own foam roller coaster.
Make Your Own Ice Cream, July 27: Learn about chemical engineering—by making your own ice cream. 

Fun Tuesdays at the Library: Tuesdays, July 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Outdoor Games from the 1950s, July 5: Want to use hula hoops, do some tin can bowling, jump rope, or play jacks and hopscotch? Then come to this afternoon of throwback fun! (Weather permitting.)
Make Your Own Project, July 12: The Library will break out all of its arts and crafts goodies, like markers, stickers, crayons, and Play-Doh, so kids can make their own art work.
Legos and Board Games, July 19: It’s time to play. Come to the Library for an afternoon of Legos and board games. The Library’s got plenty of both.
An Afternoon of Origami, July 26: During this program, you can make your own origami jumping frog or learn how to fold and fly a paper airplane—and then compete in frog and plane races.

Ice Cream Sundae Party: Thursday, August 25, 1:30 p.m.
Children who have registered for the Summer Reading Game are invited to come and make their own ice cream sundae at this end-of-summer celebration.

All Library programs are free and open to the public. Call the Library at (914) 738-1234 for events that require pre-registration. Out of courtesy to fellow attendees, please be on time, and please call to cancel if you can’t make a program you registered for.

The Summer Reading Program kickoff event, and related events. are funded by The Friends of the Pelham Public Library with the exception of the Engineering for Kids Program, which is funded by a gift in memory of Karin and Ted Mayer.

ADULT PROGRAMS

One-to-One Instruction on Computers and Using Devices With the Library’s E-Resources: Want to download some e-books from the Library’s collection for your next vacation? Or learn how to use popular computer programs, such as Microsoft Word and Excel? Call the Library for individualized instruction.

LIBRARY NOTES

Summer Hours: The Library has shifted to summer hours on Saturdays and will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. After Labor Day, it will resume longer Saturday hours, closing at 4:00 p.m.

Fourth of July: The Library will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

Please Suspend Holds if You’re on Vacation: This is a quick reminder to library patrons to suspend any holds you have on materials while you’re on vacation. It frees up materials for others and keeps your place in the queue. If you are unclear about how to suspend a hold, call the Library.