We're rounding the corner into the final weeks of Summer Reading! We've had some great adventures this summer, from fighting Kobulds in Dungeons & Dragons to crowning the first ever winner of Project Waddleway. But the adventures are far from over! In the coming weeks, visit the library to paint river rocks, search for Bigfoot, and make your own Hobbit door wreath. Don't forget that teens & tweens get a small prize every time they visit the library! (Just ask a librarian in the Children's Room.)
In this newsletter, you'll find details about how Summer Reading works, the weekly prizes for grades 5-12, and the programs and activities for weeks 5-7 (July 22nd-August 9th).
On Thursday, July 18th, 10 teens competed for the title of Project Waddleway Champion. Each person created an outfit for a rubber duck in just half an hour using only the materials provided. The decked-out ducks were then anonymized and judged by an unbiased librarian. The scores were extremely close, but Amelia ultimately came out on top! She took home the Waddleway Trophy. Thanks to everyone who participated in this exciting competition! Your creations were truly amazing.
You can still register for Summer Reading!
If you're not registered for Summer Reading yet, now's the time! From now through August 9th, you can track your reading through Beanstack. With Beanstack, you can earn virtual tickets for reading and enter the tickets into raffles for prizes. Access Beanstack by downloading their mobile app or by visiting this link:
We have lots of fun prizes for teens and tweens this summer! During the Summer Reading Program (June 24th-August 9th), teens and tweens can pick a small prize from a prize box every time they visit the library! Just come say hello to a librarian in the Children's Room! During the program, we'll also have weekly raffle drawings for exciting prizes.
Weekly Prizes
Prizes for Weeks 5-7
We will draw the winners for the Middle Grade Graphic Novel Bundle (grades 5-8) and the Heartstopper Bundle (grades 9-12) on Monday, 7/29. We will draw the winners for the 13-in-1 Solar Robot Kit (grades 5-8) and the 3D Printing Pen (grades 9-12) on Monday, August 5th. We will draw the winners for the Axolotl Squishmallow (Grades 5-8) and the Cat Squishmallow (Grades 9-12) on Monday, August 12th. If you're interested in these prizes, don't forget to enter your tickets into the raffles!
Grades 5-8
Week 5: Middle grade graphic novel book bundle
Week 6: 13-in-1 solar robot kit
Week 7: Axolotl Squishmallow
Grades 9-12
Week 5: Heartstopper graphic novel bundle
Week 6: 3D printing pen
Week 7: Cat Squishmallow
Grand Prizes
Win a $50 Visa Gift Card!
Anyone who reads on at least 25 days during the Summer Reading Program will automatically be entered into the Grand Prize Raffle for a $50 Visa gift card. Winners will be drawn at the end of Summer Reading.
Did you know you can backdate your reading? If you forget to log your reading one day, don't worry! You can log reading for dates in the past, all the way back to June 24th.
MA Teen Choice Book Award
The Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award (MTCBA) invites students in grades 7-12 to vote for their favorite book of the year. During our 2024 Summer Reading Program (June 24th-August 9th), anyone going into grades 7-12 who reads a book from the MTCBA list of nominees can pick out a free book from our stash of prize books! Just come to the library and let us know what you read. (Listening to the audiobook totally counts.)
And don't forget to vote for your favorites in September! To get a better look at the nominees, visit mateenchoicebook.org or check them out on Instagram: @mateenbookaward
For more information about the Teen Summer Reading Program and to view all the Summer Reading activities for grades 5-12, download the brochure below.
Our resident Sasquatches have been so busy reading that we’ve barely heard from them at all recently. However, 7 of the Bigfoots recently approached library staff to report that their friend, Sasquatch #8, has gone missing.
Drop by the Teen Space anytime from July 22nd through August 9th to help find the missing Bigfoot. Anyone who completes the scavenger hunt (or makes a good attempt) will be entered into a raffle for a cryptid-themed reader's basket, which includes a Bigfoot pillow, a Loch Ness Monster bookmark, and a Mothman mug. The winner will be drawn at the end of Summer Reading.
Take & Make Craft
Paint a magical woodland door!
Available starting Monday, July 29th
While supplies last
Grades 5-12
Pick up a craft kit in the Teen Space! Kits will become available on Monday, July 29th. Each kit will include a ceramic door, paint, and a paintbrush.
Rock Painting
Make your own rock art!
Wednesday, July 31st 6:00PM-7:00PM Grades 5-8
Registration required
Show off your creativity and paint some river rocks!