Tri-City kids can "go wild" for books this summer with their library reading club.
On Saturday, the Coquitlam Public Library will kick off its free reading program for children aged four to 11 at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (from 10 to 11:30 a.m.) and at the City Centre branch (from 2 to 3 p.m.).
A First Nations storyteller will also be on hand for the launch of the club, which entitles young readers to a medal and prizes if they read daily — for at least 15 minutes — for 49 days and have their Walk on the Wild Side! passport stamped by library staff.
The provincial program will also get off the ground with a Splash the Staff party at the Port Moody Public Library on July 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Barbara Weston of the Coquitlam Public Library told The Tri-City News the kids' summer reading club gets more popular each year: In 2016, 2,178 children signed up at one of its two branches — a jump of 6% over the previous year (in 2015, registration was up 18%).
And, last week, School District 43 schools distributed leaflets to students to further boost participation, she said.
Weston said international visitors staying with family and friends in the Tri-Cities this summer are also eligible to apply. "Half the fun is returning to the library week by week, collecting the reading sticker and qualifying for the reading medal at the end of the summer," she said.
In Coquitlam, the reading medals will be handed out by a civic VIP on Aug. 19 (at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.) at the City Centre branch at 1169 Pinetree Way or on Sept. 9 (at 10:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.) at the Poirier branch at 575 Poirier St.
In Port Moody, the hardware will be presented on Aug. 26 while in Port Coquitlam, where registration starts Wednesday at the Terry Fox Library (2470 Mary Hill Rd.), the wrap-up party is on Aug. 22.
Meanwhile, Weston said parents of newborns and children up to three can be part of the library's Read-to-Me Club and students not ready for the middle school reading club can also join the kids' program.
The Middle School Only Summer Reading Club is geared for Coquitlam students who have completed grades 5, 6, 7 or 8 and can write book reviews to win prizes, Weston said.
And for adults, a Canada 150-themed club is open to readers — also with gift baskets attached for successful participants; its end-of-summer celebration is on Aug. 31. As for adult learners, awards are also offered to ESL book readers who pen a short book review.
