Community Corner

Dearborn Plans Exotic Kickoff for Summer Reading Program

What do you get when a sloth, a boa constrictor, a macaw and an albino alligator show up at the public library?

Dearborn, MI — If a three-toed sloth can’t convince your kids to pick up books and read this summer, what would it take

How about a boa constrictor, a macaw or an albino alligator?

They’re among the exotic animals the Creature Conservancy, an Ann Arbor rescue group, will bring to what the Dearborn Public Library says is a “bolder than ever way” to kick off the summer reading program.

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The kickoff takes place at 11 a.m. Monday, June 20, at Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Children of all ages can register for the summer reading program at the event, or any time thereafter by visiting the library or the library’s website.

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The 2016 theme is “Exercise your Mind, READ!” 

Librarian Rebecca Hermen, the head of youth services, notes that this is an all ages, library-wide initiative.

“There are so many ways you can embrace the theme this year — you can take a Tai Chi class, watch movies, introduce your child to yoga and much, much more,” she said. 

Adults are encouraged to keep track of reading hours, activities attended, or Gale Online Courses completed through the Dearborn Public Library’s Summer Reading log online (a library card is necessary).

Children and teens may do the same, or pick up a bookmark at the library to tally points. 

All activities must be logged by Friday, Aug. 5. Grand prize winners will be announced during the wrap up party on Thursday, Aug. 11

Image credit: Roy Luck via Flickr / Creative Commons

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