Clubbin'

The kids have joined a club: the library's summer reading club! And they are thrilled beyond belief. We were there last week, playing computer games and picking up books on knights and on Arthur, when we passed the circulation desk and heard them talking about the club. I thought the kiddos were too young, but there is a pre-reading club. If you do 10 reading activities--being read to, retelling a story, learning a nursery rhyme, acting out a story, illustrating a story--you win a prize and get invited to the end-of-summer party. Sis was so proud to receive her club "card" where we'll check off activities. Then, knowing of clubs from tv shows, she asked me where the club building was! The library, of course. They glowed with happiness all the way home, where we proudly posted the checklist on the chalkboard and promptly read 4 books. Then they went off and read to themselves, reciting and retelling their favorite stories. It's been about a week since we were at the library and, not counting carefully, we have done about 40 reading activities: that's 4 books a night, plus some stories during the day; they acted out Cinderella; recited nursery rhymes; and retold me their favorite books. It's fun to see them so excited about books and clubs . . . . I loved both as a kid. Well, and truly, even now . . . . happy reading!