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 Paws, Claws, Scales and “Tales” invaded Royersford Free Public Library last week to kick off the summer reading program.
The Wednesday evening carnival featured a variety of games for children, as well as balloon sculptures, face painting and tattoos. Even a couple of real chickens greeted children who registered for the summer program.
Hot dogs, chips and soda were available for purchase, and free popcorn and sno cones were provided.
The Royersford Parks and Recreation department helped with the games, popcorn and sno cones. Several area businesses also participated.
The summer reading program is for children from birth to age 12. Readers can register at any time, all summer long. Children will record the title of each book they read – or have read to them - on a reading log. For each five entries on the log (a book or 20 minutes worth of reading a chapter book), children receive one raffle ticket for the prize drawings. The drawings will be Aug. 23.
The reading program also includes story times, evening family events, live animal visits and a few animals that will stay all summer and lots more. Riley, a blue and white parakeet, will spend the summer at the library.
Event calendars are available at the library, or online at www.mc-npl.org, click on the Royersford branch.
The story times run through Aug. 17. Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., are stories, songs and activities for all ages, with the same program both days. Tuesdays, at 10:30 or 11:15 a.m., babies from birth to age 2 are invited for stories, songs and activities. At 1 p.m. on Thursdays a story time is offered for ages 5 to 7.
Craft drop-ins for ages 4 and over are planned Fridays, June 23, July 14 and Aug. 4, 10:30 a.m. to noon. A donation of $1 per craft will be collected.
Also this summer, children and teens can help feed people around the world. The library is partnering with Heifer International through the Read to Feed program.
Readers are encouraged to find sponsors who will donate a few cents for each book read. At the end of the summer, the library will send all the money raised to Heifer International toward the purchase of farm animals for families around the world.
Noah’s Ark banks are available at the library for holding the change. For information, visit Heifer International’s website, www.heifer.org.
An embryology project will allow 15 children age 8 and over to learn about poultry science as they incubate eggs at the library and watch the chicks hatch. The project also includes contests and crafts.
A book club is available for children entering fourth through eighth grades. Participants read the book and meet to discuss the author, plot, characters, obstacles, solutions, favorite parts and what if’s. Children will be able to play trivia for chocolate and eat pizza.
The club will meet Friday, July 14, 12:30 p.m., to discuss the book “Chicken Boy.” The book for the Friday, Aug. 18 session is “Once Upon a Marigold.”
Wednesday night programs, which begin at 6:30, include June 21, Al Angelo, juggler, magician and comedian; June 28, Grandfather Joe, folk musician playing sing-along music; July 5, Eco Man, Richard McLaughlin, guitarist and children’s singer; July 12, Mad Science, presenting a new show, “Spin, Pop, Boom.”
Also, July 19, David Smith, juggling and extreme acts of balance; July 26, Sue Bani’s Dog Obedience School; Aug. 2, Rick Waterhouse, The Chef Finds a Pet puppet show, and Aug. 9, Wrangler Rick’s western variety act.
Friday morning activities, at 10:30, feature, on June 30, What Knott Farm’s Amazing Animals Show; July 28, Mlanjeni Magical Puppet Theatre, and Aug. 18, Sue Bani’s Dog Obedience School Performers.
Thursday night animal visits, all at 6:30, include July 6, pet first aid program from Limerick Veterinary Hospital; July 13, 4-H Rabbit and Cavy (guinea pig) Club; July 20, 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Club, and July 27, 4-H Poultry Club.
A two-day monarch butterfly workshop will be held Aug. 14 and 16, 1 to 2 p.m., for ages 8 and up. Space is limited to 15 children. Participants will learn how to harvest eggs and hatch and care for caterpillars. Tag and release supplies will be covered. Both days will also feature a craft and snack.
A family skit night and prize rally will wrap up the summer reading program on Wednesday, Aug. 23. From 6 to 7 p.m., families, youth groups, scouts, neighborhoods and individuals are invited to share a skit. At 7 p.m. children may turn in their reading logs for one more chance to win a prize.
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