COME SAIL AWAY
Bullard Community Library kicks off summer reading program
Special to the Banner

Governor Rick Perry has declared June 9 "Texas Reading Club Day." Bullard Community Library gave its summer readers a head start by kicking off its Reading Club on June 2.

Noonday Community Library will hold its annual event every Saturday afternoon from 1-2 p.m. June 16-30 and 1-3 p.m. July 7 at the library.

"Everyone is welcome -- children of all ages," said library director Lorretta Applegate. "We will have something for every one even the moms."

Applegate said that for every log sheet your kids fill up they will be able to pick out two books of their choice from the book cart. Each child gets their own library card and will learn how to use it and how to find things in the library.

July 7 will be Noonday's closing celebration. "We are going to have goodies and games for all the kids that participate in the program," Applegate said.

This year's theme is "Sail Away with Books."

According to Governor Perry's proclamation, over half a million children participate in this program. So he "asks all Texans to join in ensuring that children across our great state become accomplished readers." Kids (and parents), help us make this year's Reading Club one of the best

ever.

Bullard's guidelines are simple:

!Children are not competing against one another. Rather, they are challenging themselves with individually set goals.

! Children are to read books that are on or above the grade level they have just completed. Even if a book is way above the child's grade level, or has hundreds of pages, one book still counts as one book.

! Books listed on the reading logs are to be those checked out at Bullard Community Library.

! Preschoolers are included because being read to is a powerful impetus to becoming a reader. Parents who maintain a log for their preschoolers should indicate "NON-READER" or "READ TO" on the log.

! Parents of preschoolers and kindergartners who are reading should keep separate logs for books read to the child and books the child reads him/herself.

+ All reading logs must be turned in by the date printed on each of the logs (Aug. 25, 2007). No exceptions to the stated return date will be made.

Children can pick up the guidelines, reading logs, and their first set of books.

There are a lot of brand-new books and shelves full of old favorites. See the display rack of new titles in the Cameron Room.

As in previous years, children who read 40 books will receive a gold medal; those reading 30 books, a silver medal; and a bronze medal for 20 books. Special ribbons for preschoolers will also be awarded.