SAUGUS — The town library has a variety of programs up and running to keep students engaged and reading this summer, with the goal of encouraging them to spend at least 20 minutes per day reading.
“Reading is Jawsome” kicked off last month and has already featured a variety of events, including a visit from the Saugus Fire Department at the Saugus Iron Works. The program’s activities include literacy support, story times, music programs, discounted museum and Massachusetts park passes, and “take & make” crafts, the library said in a statement.
Families are encouraged to register for the shark-themed program via the Beanstack app, where, in addition to tracking students’ reading, they can also learn about different kinds of sharks and the “critical role these majestic creatures play in our ocean ecosystems.”
Beanstack is “like a Fitbit for reading!” the statement said.
The summer-reading program is open to students from preschool through fifth grade.
“We have all kinds of great books on hand, but don’t forget we have free e-books, audiobooks, comics, magazines, and music you can download using the Hoopla and Libby digital collections,” the statement said.
And, for those who keep up with the prescribed reading, prizes donated by local businesses and the New Friends of the Saugus Public Library are available.
“It’s important to keep reading to retain skills — and (it’s) an opportunity to catch up with peers,” the statement said. “Research shows that children who do not read during the summer fall behind. The effect is cumulative — over many summers these students fall significantly behind their peers.”
The library stressed that the program can be an opportunity for families to build a reading routine — turning off the media to dive into stories and other worlds with children.
All of the library’s programs are free of charge.
