Goodies for kids who join Everett library's reading program. By Ahmed Fawzi Herald Writer

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100627/NEWS01/706279920

Everett Public Library's summer reading program encourages teens and other kids to read by giving prizes such as swim passes, tacos and even a bike.

There's also a chance to meet with Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson.

Summer Reading Program 2010 will run through Aug. 28.

The library hopes teens and kids keep up their reading during summer vacation and planned the program as a fun and easy way to keep kids' noses in the books.

At the end of the summer, the library plans to reward the young readers with prizes according to how many books they finish: a pass to the Forest Park Swim Center for the first 12 books they read, a taco from Taco Time for the second set of 12 books, a coupon for a free kid's meal from Denny's Restaurant for the third set and a book for the fourth set.

“This is an intensive reading program; if the children finish the program early by Aug. 7, they get an invitation to a party at the library and they can meet the mayor,” said Emily Dagg, youth services and outreach manager at the Everett Public Library.

All kids and teens are eligible.

“Our goal is to encourage children to keep up their reading skills during the summer vacation, so when they return back to schools they haven't lost their reading skills,” Dagg said.

Everett Library also offers reading programs that focus on a specific age group. Among them is Read with Me, which encourages parents to read aloud to their kids and infants; prizes for that program include a ticket to Imagine Children's Museum.

Reading program sponsors include Target, which gave $2,000 for prizes; Denny's; Taco Time; and the Swim Center.

Last year, the library had 2,400 kids and teens participate in the summer program. Children have to come to the main library or the Evergreen Branch Library and fill out the registration card.

For more information: go to www.epls.org. For information on programs offered by Sno-Isle Libraries, follow the links at www.sno-isle.org.



Ahmed Fawzi: 425-339-3449, afawzi@heraldnet.com.