Reading club with prizes, a magician, puppets, live animal show highlight summer at Fall River Public Library

The Fall River Public Library has a big schedule of events coming up this summer.

Get ready for the adventure of your summer—READ! Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main Street, invites kids ages 12 and younger to sign up for a Summer Reading Safari starting Monday, July 9 at 2 p.m. on the library’s front lawn. The 7-week reading adventure featuring storytimes, craft programs, and family entertainment is sponsored by Rockland Trust Bank.

The summer gets off to a “roaring” start with a family concert presented by the Toe Jam Puppet Band. With their catchy songs and humorous antics, the talented duo are a favorite of children throughout the New England area. Families are invited to bring along a picnic lunch or snacks and spread a blanket on the lawn to enjoy the afternoon’s festivities.

Children can sign up for the summer reading club, receiving their official summer reading log and membership card. Each week, children keep track of their reading progress while collecting incentive prizes, including raffle tickets for bigger prizes. A drawing for bigger prizes will take place at the end of the program. For every 10 picture books or 1 chapter book (50 pages or more) they read, children will receive a leopard spot bearing their name that will go on the “Spot, the Spotless Leopard” reading chart. The library’s goal is to have poor Spot covered with his much-needed spots by the end of the 7-week reading program. Children who are too young to read independently can still participate by having an adult read to them.

As part of the summer reading safari theme, the library will host a full schedule of children’s activities including craft programs, puppet shows, magicians, animal programs, and a weekly storytime on Tuesday mornings at 11 a.m. at the Main Library and Monday mornings at 11 a.m. at the South Branch Library located at 58 Arch Street.

Some of the summer highlights at the Main Library will include an outdoor family performance by magician Scott Jameson on Wednesday, July 11 at 6 p.m.; a visit from the Lloyd Center for Environmental Studies with its traveling, hands-on exhibit of marine life, Friday, July 20 at 11 a.m.; and a performance by the Pumpernickel Puppets on Wednesday, July 25 at 1 p.m. (more).

Summer 2018 will also see the return of some library traditions including the ever-popular Teddy Bear Picnic scheduled for Tuesday, July 31 at 11 a.m. The outdoor event features stories, crafts, a teddy bear parade, and a beauty contest.

An evening program for families, A Wild Night at the Library, is scheduled for Thursday, August 9 from 6-7:30 p.m. The night will feature a live animal show presented by Rainforest Reptiles as well as a variety of crafts and activities on the library’s front lawn.

“The Library has planned an incredibly full, exciting and varied schedule of activities for the summer,” says Supervisor of Children’s Services David Mello. “For any families who have not yet had the opportunity to explore the library and our many resources, this would be the ideal summer to do it!”

For further information on the library’s summer of activities, contact David Mello at 508-324-2700 ext. 4.