Starting June 1st, teen and adult readers can register for the Skokie Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Paws to Read”,  by visiting the Summer Reading 2014 table in the central lobby of the Skokie Public Library or the Bookmobile. Readers can also register online here!

Patricipants must read five books by July 31 to recieve a t-shirt (while supplies last) and to be entered in the Grand Prize drawings for fabulous gift baskets. For every book completed, readers can spin the Wheel of Prizes at the Summer Reading Table in the central lobby. The program ends July 31st, so be sure to complete the program and enter your drawings before the deadline!

Kids can also partake in this program. The kids summer reading program this year is based on minutes read and minutes exercised. The Skokie Public Library has partnered with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program to encourage “healthy, strong, and fit readers”. These young readers are required to read for 1,000 minutes and exercise for 600 minutes by the end of the program, which is also July 31. This may seem intimidating, but if kids register on June 1st and then read and exercise daily, they only need to read about 16-17 minutes and exercise 10 minutes a day! There is also a school competition for elementary schools. The school with the largest increase in students who have completed the program will win the famous traveling trophy for a year.

Like most years, the Youth department will offer a interactive playset to younger children. This year it is a miniature vet clinic, where kids can pretend to help ailing stuffed pets.

The Skokie Public Library is also encouraging readers to submit their favorite pet pics! Post pictures to instagram with #skokiereads or send pictures to [email protected].

Remember that in order to register, a Skokie Public Library card or a card from another suburban library that is registered with the Skokie Public Library is required. Only Skokie residents or kids who attend school in Skokie can recieve a t-shirt upon completing the program.

Also, don’t forget to read your chosen Niles North Summer Reading 2014 book and include it as one of your five books! This program is a great way to kill summer boredom and aid the sluggish first weeks of coming back to school.

Happy summer and happy reading, Vikings!