By DENISE HERSCHEL
Although school has been out for almost a month and summer vacation is in full swing, there is still time for kids in the borough of Tinton Falls to sign up for the summer reading program at the Tinton Falls Library.
According to Ruth Santulli, Youth Services Library Assistant at Tinton Falls Library, approximately 135 children registered for last year’s program and she hopes even more will join this year.
“The Vacation Reading Club (VRC) began June 1 and ends on August 12,” Santulli said. “Our program is limited to Tinton Falls patrons but children outisde the Tinton Falls area may enroll in programs from the Monmouth County Library branches such as the Ocean Township Branch or the Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury.”
This year’s theme is “Build a Better World” established by the Collaborative Summer Library Program and selected by the N.J. Summer Reading Committee. Santulli said that the Tinton Falls Library has been offering the Vacation Reading Club to children for almost 20 years.
“We had our kick-off event by Kevin C. Carr with One-Man Circus performance on June 21 at borough hall. Our invitation-only event, the end-of-the-summer celebration, will take place on Aug. 16 featuring Beach Detective Touch Tables with Adventure Aquarium. The time and the location is provided on the invitations which children receive when they complete the reading program,” she added.
There are various categories for summer reading with requirements for each group – Read-to-Me non-readers (parent/cargiver reads to child) requires 40 books; Vacation Reading Club:: independent readers through fifth grade is 8 hours of required reading and Teens: sixth grade through twelfth grade must read 800 pages. All who are interested can sign up and log their reading entries online here.
There are additional scheduled events for both adults and children for July and August. On July 21 at 10:15 am there will be a book signing for “Close at Heart: A Sea Otter Story” by Jill Turner. The program is for preschoolers through Grade 1. In additon to the book signing there will be a reading of the book and a craft. Family storytime for ages 10 months to 4 years will be held July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16, and August 30 from 10:15 am to 10:45am. Preschool storytime will be on Wednesdays and Fridays. Call the library for times and dates.
Awesome Activities, Grades K to 2, will be held August 2, August 9 and August 30 on Wednesday at 4:15pm. Call the library for location of programs. Summer Day Matinee will be on August 23 at 10:30am – Smurfs – The Lost Village and 3pm – The LEGO Batman movie.Snacks will be provided.
For adults, on August 3 Part Three of the “Build a Better Life” series with Organize by Design will take place at 7pm. Registration is required.
For more information about additional summer children’s programs or to learn more about the summer reading program contact the Tinton Falls Library at 732-542-3110.
