by Rachel Robinson
This summer let’s celebrate every child’s right to read. Kick-off Summer Reading with your family at Kingsessing Library on Thursday June 2nd, 4:00pm-5:30pm, and follow it up that weekend by going on the Summer of Wonder Treasure Hunt on Saturday June 4th.
You may have heard about summer slide, which is when students lose some of the learning they gain over the school year during summer break. It can be very disheartening for families that are already concerned about the Covid-19 pandemic’s effect on childhood learning. However, summer slide is not a given. Every child who can make it to the library has what they need to overcome the slide and keep learning all summer long.
Overcoming summer slide is not just about reading, although we do love reading at the library. It’s about any kind of learning that the student finds motivating and enjoyable. Summer is a great time to read books for pleasure or start a creative project or plan an adventure. Kingsessing Library’s kick-off party has something for every type of learner.
Kingsessing library, located at 1201 S 51st Street, is taking the party outside to the Rec Center tennis courts on Thursday June 2nd. The rain date is Friday June 3rd.
When families arrive they can chill to music from a live DJ while enjoying soft pretzels and water ice. At 4:30pm they can take a seat for Ms. Rachel’s Pride Storytime. At activity tables there will be friends from all over the neighborhood. Bartram’s Garden and John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge will have some ecological activities. There will be art with both University City Arts League and In the Path of Islam: Art on the Road. For lovers of all things on wheels, Safe Routes Philly will be there to give away helmets. Half of the tennis courts will be set up as a traffic garden, so bring bikes, scooters or roller blades.
When families are ready, children and teens can sign-up for Summer Reading and receive an activity passport, a free book to keep and a map for our Summer of Wonder Treasure Hunt taking place on Saturday, June 4th. In partnership with A Book A Day, the treasure hunt is another great example of the types of activities learners can do to overcome summer slide. The maps show where families can find little sidewalk libraries in their neighborhoods. On that Saturday those libraries will be stocked with even more brand new books for children and teens to find. Every sidewalk library will have its own theme and special stickers to go with the map.
Summer Reading at Kingsessing Library is only just getting started. Pick-up our program calendar while you’re at the Kick-Off and add Crochet at the Library, Teen Tabletop Roleplaying, and Baby Toddler Dance Parties to your summer schedule.
Summer Reading at Philadelphia libraries is a tradition that is over 100 years old. If you grew up in Philadelphia you probably spent a little bit of your summer at the library sharing your reading and summer learning adventures with the friendly people who work there. Kingsessing Library is proud to carry on that tradition with new and innovative activities, programs, treasure hunts and parties. See you at the library!
