Caitlyn Tobin is leading story time at the EVPL Oaklyn in Evansville – reading “Very Good Hats,” by Emma Straub, a silly story about hats, and other items can be hats.
“What is a hat?” she began reading, “Just something you wear on your head? Some people think hats are fancy things you can buy in a haberdashery (that's a fancy hat store.) But that's just the tip of the iceberg.”
A gaggle of children sit at her feet, sometimes jumping up to touch the illustrations. The room is ringed by moms and clinging children.
Many of these children and their parents took part in the 2023 Summer reading program, which Erika Qualls Barnett said drew more than 3,400 participants. She said the pandemic dipped numbers to about 1,700.
“So our numbers are continuing to grow up. I will say the number of books read is going up so much. We've read over 32,000 books just in June and July. That's amazing for our community.”
The program ran from June first to July 31st. The goal for adults was 10 books, the goal for children was 50 books. Meeting goals meant prizes for participants. Content Marketing Specialist Heather McKinney offered the updated number of 44,000 books read during the summer reading program.
Qualls Barnett said the program was created to retain children’s reading skills over the summer. Now it’s also for adults.
“Summer reading” also includes lots of summer programming – 270 activities were offered in June and July, said Qualls Barnett, the end of which offers a little relief.
“We just call it ‘Happy Last Summer Reading Day;’ it is kind of a holiday here,” Qualls Barnett said. “We pack so much stuff into those eight or nine weeks of summer.”
On Monday alone there was Splash Day at Oaklyn, Balloonfest! At North Park and Play & Learn Playdate at Stringtown.
Children's Storytime is a summer staple, also held at EVPL Oaklyn Monday. Caroline Simkins of Evansville took her two young children, daughter Amelia, 4, and son Harvey, 2, to story time, and they also participated in the summer reading program.
“My main goal right now is just to get them excited about reading because if you can become excited about reading (it) can take you pretty far in life.”
She said they reached the goal of reading 50 books, and took part in many activities.
“I think it opens up a whole different world for them, you know?” Simkins said. “Reading is such an important part of our family.”
If you missed the summer reading program, never fear. The monthly reading program drawings resume in August.
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