Summer Reading Program for Children

One World, Many Stories

This summer’s reading program theme at the Middletown Public Library is “One World, Many Stories”, and it will explore different cultures and peoples from around the globe.  Expand your horizon through reading about different cultures, lands, and people from those who have either traveled or lived there, as well as enjoy music, dance, games, and stories of other cultures through our summer long series of performers here at the library. 

How the Summer Reading Program will be structured:
1) First, the children must create their reading contract…Make a promise or contract for summer reading with your “reading coach” (parent, other adult or older sibling) and set your reading goal for the summer.  Be as creative as you like!  Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Number of books I will read each week
• Number of pages I will read each week
• Minutes I will spend reading each week
• Number of books parent/other will read to me (for little ones)

2) Get Your Prizes…Every week during the Summer Reading Program (starting Fri. 7/1), you can enter for a chance to win a prize!  Just visit the Children’s Room Desk and show us your progress in your reading log, and you can submit an entry into our weekly raffle for prizes such as a $10 gift certificate to local businesses such as Sweet Berry Farm, Frosty Freez, and the Newport Creamery.

3) Come to the Final Party!

• Wednesday, August 17^th at 11am
• The Great Baldini will perform magic and tricks from around the globe
• If you’ve completed your Reading Contract, you can receive your reading certificate and prize bag!

Scheduled Performers and Dates:

*Because space is limited in our Meeting Room, tickets are required.  Please pick-up your FREE tickets in the Children's Department.  Tickets for each performer will be available the week prior to the scheduled performer*

• July 6^th at 2pm: Diane Edgecomb, storyteller.  “Around the World Folktales”
• July 11^th at 11am:  Christopher Kavi. “Andiamo Tutti!” Celebrating Italy in Story and Song
• July 14^th at 11am: Greg Cooney, musician.  “One World, Many Stories, Songs and Smiles”
• July 20^th at 11am: Michelle Bach-Coulibaly.  “Stories from Mali (West Africa) Through Dance and   Music”
• July 25^th ay 2pm: Loreen Spears.  “Narragansett Stories of My Grandmothers”
• August 2^nd at 2pm:  Dave Marchetti.  “Animal Experiences from Around the World”
• August 9^th at 11am:  Ronald McDonald, “Ronald McDonald’s Reading Adventure Show!”
• August 17^th at 11am: Thomas Holmes, The Great Baldini.  “Magic Around the World 

Read to Feed @ the Library!
We can help feed the world!  Here’s how it works:
This summer we are partnering with Heifer International for their "Read to Feed" program.  Every time you visit the library to fill out your Reading Contract, you will be given a token to put into a jar of your choosing of a “living gift”, such as a “Hive of Bees”, “Flock of Geese”, or a “Flock of Chicks”.  Your votes will help us choose which living gift to donate to Heifer International, which will then send our “living gifts” to people who can then use these gifts to make a living.  You can visit www.heifer.org to learn more about them.


The statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading Program is supported by the RI Office of Library and Information Services with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, McDonald's Local Owner/Operators of Rhode Island, the Pawtucket Red Sox, Citizens Bank and Pepsi. Local support includes RI Children's and Young Adult Librarians, and the Friends of the Middletown Public Library.