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Local Kids Line Up to Read in Summer Program

By DANIELLE WHYTE

For as long as there’s been the New York Public Library system, there’s been the summer reading program, to encourage city kids to continue learning when school is not in session. This year’s program theme is “Tune In at Your Library,” and the Fordham branch has a number of eager participants

“Reading is my favorite thing to do in the summer,” said Shania Parsauld, a 9-year-old reading program participant from PS 85. Shania also goes to the Fordham Library for programs like arts and crafts, movie time, and Reading Aloud.

“We want to encourage kids to read and we want to make reading fun, not something you have to do,” said Deborah Allman, supervisor of the Fordham’s Children’s Library.

The citywide reading program is hosted by the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, the Department of Education, and School Library Services, and runs at most libraries. Children are given approximately 20 recommended books, according to their grade level, to read in the summer and they record the books they’ve read in reading logs at their local libraries. The program is sponsored by Emigrant Savings Bank, Scholastic, and Time Warner Inc. Fordham has one of the highest enrollments in the city with approximately 500 participants.

Fordham also hosts other activities throughout the summer like Reading Aloud, which began July 5 and ends Aug. 27. It is one of Fordham’s most popular summer programs with about 30 kids ages 3 to 12 showing up every afternoon to hear library staff read books aloud. Guest readers like local firefighters, pastors and parents have been known to visit.

“It’s something for parents to do with their kids instead of staying home all summer. They can bring them to the library.”

Chenille Rafferty, 10, who attends Pace Academy, explained why she likes reading when school’s out. “Reading tells you a lot and it takes up most of my time in the summer.” Her younger sister, Chelsea accompanies her to Reading Aloud. “I learn how to read, it teaches me, and it’s fun,” said the 6-year-old.

“All kids should be involved in summer reading,” said Allman, “and the Bronx has had an increase of about 11 percent in reading participants.”

This year, the program has also expanded to include reading lists for babies and toddlers.

“We’ve never had so many young kids sign up,” said Allman. “You wouldn’t believe it but parents do read to their babies and toddlers.” Fordham Library has 90 babies participating in the reading program, and because of this, the library has introduced the Saturday program, Baby and Me, where parents can read to their young children.

The Fordham Library is also aware of the area’s large Spanish-speaking population and offers Spanish-language books for kids. “Seeing this is a community that largely speaks Spanish, we need a list in Spanish,” Allman said.

The official summer reading program participation deadline is the first week of August, but Allman is flexible. “It’s not too late to sign up,” she said. “We would never turn a kid away.”

Ed. note: For more information, or to sign up for the Fordham Summer Reading program at any local library, call (718) 579-4220 or visit www.summerreading.org.   The library will also host a celebration on Aug. 27 for summer reading participants. Kids will receive a certificate and other prizes for completing their summer reading lists. Also, on Aug. 9 paleontologists from the American Museum of Natural History will set up a moveable museum exhibit outside the library where visitors can learn about dinosaurs.

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