Bayliss Public Library kicked off its annual Summer Reading Program: “It’s an Ocean of Possibilities” with a big splash at Sherman Park Saturday, June 11 followed by another over the weekend.
“We’re talking all about animals that live under the sea, in oceans, and because of the area we live in the Great Lakes and our ecosystems around here as well,” Librarian Sabrina Neveu said.
The Summer Reading Program is a series of weekly storytimes and events scheduled to run every Saturday through July 30.
Its intended audience is children five to nine-years-old, offering various reading challenges for teens and adults.
“The hope is to encourage children and their families to make sure they take time to read over the summer,” Neveu said. “We want to make sure they’re all set when school starts back up in September.”
The first session in the series was held at the pavilion next to the beach. The event started with Neveu reading the “Scaredy Squirrel,” written by Melanie Watt.
Children’s activities included corn hole toss, relay race, beach ball blanket toss, and water balloon toss. Water and snacks were provided on site.
The second session in the series was held at the courthouse lawn. Neveu read “Bubbles” by Ben Clanton, and “I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean” by Kevin Sherry.
Little ears listened intently, but their feet hit the ground running when it was time to listen to music and dance. Many finished the afternoon chasing and blowing bubbles, while others drew with sidewalk chalk.
The Summer Reading Program has a history of more than 30 years in the community. Neveu said the program has grown substantially over the last few years to reach a high 140 last year.
“We want to help families just stay excited about reading, and facilitate their literacy needs,” said Neveu.
Sign up for the program by visiting the Bayliss Public Library website. It's phone number is 906-632-9331.
