Waukon library's Summer Reading Program highlights

The “Dream Big… Read!” Summer Reading Program (SRP) at Waukon's Robey Memorial Library has come to an end. Family Night, held Monday, July 9, was the kick-off of the SRP. The opening program was "Snakes Alive," featuring Tom Kessenich, Herpetologist of Blanchardville, WI. He shared with the 89 in attendance (59 kids, 30 adults) his love of snakes and reptiles bringing along a Western Fox Snake, Albino Burmese Python, Black and White Tegu (lizard), Bearded Dragon (lizard) and an alligator named Itty Bitty Gator. A special highlight for the kids was a chance to pet and hold him.
Again this year an area favorite "story lady," Sue Kiesau, was at the library, along with her puppets. She read throughout the evening and was the final program. Family Night was also the start of the registration for the four-week Reading Challenge.
The four-week Reading Challenge ran from July 9 through August 4. Participants were encouraged to read at their own pace and at their own reading level. Prizes were given for each week of participation. “Library Champion” signs were given to children to display at their homes.
In the Teen Summer Reading Challenge, four readers read a total of 70 books, with the top reader being Sarah Howe (25 books).
As in other years the Kid’s Reading Challenge was divided into three categories of readers:  Infant – Kindergarten; First grade – Third grade; (These two categories counted the number of books read);  Fourth grade – Sixth grade (This category counted the number of pages read.)
In the four weeks of the program, 59 children read a total of 1,265 books (first two categories) and an amazing 29,096 pages (third category). The top three readers in each category were: Isaac Erickson (123 books), Adele, Hugh, and Hattie Conway (109 books), Aiden and Asher Gerst (96 books);  Katerina Kovarik (47 books), Alexa Meyer (37 books), Chance Adam (34 books); Autumn Johnson (3,733 pages), Brigid Berns (3,338 pages) and Mary Vandervelden (3,048 pages).
A new feature added this year to the SRP was Experience Prizes. Private tours were given by local businesses, organizations and city departments to the top readers along with their family and friends, giving the kids added incentive to read. Experience Prizes were donated by Parrots at Dawn Pet Emporium, WW Homestead Dairy (including free ice cream cone), Bruening Rock Products, Allamakee County Museum, Waukon Fire Department (including a ride on a fire truck) and Waukon Police Station. Winners of the Experience Prizes were Sarah Howe (teen),  Isaac Erickson, Adele, Hugh and Hattie Conway, Katerina Kovarik, Alexa Meyer and Autumn Johnson.
Anne Lauerman's Story Corner bulletin board was decorated in a night sky theme “Read tonight … we’ll provide the light” featuring fireflies, stars and the moon. Children proudly added their Reading Challenge totals to the board as they read throughout the four weeks.  The bulletin board display will stay up though the end of August.
Teens' and Kids' Creative Crafts were held each Wednesday afternoon during the SRP. A total of 66 children/teens participated in craft projects. Weekly crafts for the kids included Flapping Bats, Firefly Wheel, Spinning 3-D Spaceship, and a Glow-in-the-dark Firefly, and for the teens, Geometric Mobile, Magazine Stars, Marble Paper, and Journals.
Tuesday Story Time continued each Tuesday morning from 10:30 to 11 a.m. with a total of 101 in attendance enjoying the much appreciated talents of volunteer readers Sue Kiesau, Kirk Snitker, Nikki Frana and Amy Burroughs.
Robey Memorial Library, along with the other Allamakee County Library Association (ACLA) libraries, participated in the Allamakee County Fair Kid’s Day Friday, July 20. The 72 who stopped at the ACLA booth were encouraged to draw a picture of their favorite book character and post it on the wall. Also the Library Association hosted the program "Dean of Juggling" featuring Dean Franzen from Cedar Falls with 130 in attendance.
The library very much appreciates the business sponsors who have supported this year’s Kid’s SRP, including Hardees (food certificate), Probuild, Westside Lumber (lathe) and the Experience Prize contributors (mentioned above).
Ellen Krousie, SRP Coordinator attended a State Library sponsored workshop last fall in preparation for the Summer Reading Program.
Check out the library's Facebook page for photos. Become a friend on Facebook for information on upcoming events and book recommendations.