Bubble Bus, Bruce The Bear At The Big Summer Reading Kickoff Party

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Reading and vacation go hand-in-hand and the New Rochelle Public Library is enlisting a few friends to once again make sure this is an unmatched summer of reading and fun for everyone, starting with a blowout kickoff party and the return of the Bubble Bus.

The library announced that it will be launching the "Adventure Begins At Your Library" Summer Reading Challenge with a kickoff party on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon on the library patio.

The library says that the kickoff party will be a fun-filled morning, offering a diverse range of activities for children and teens. As children read (or are read to) this summer, they will be able to log the minutes spent reading to earn points, stickers, prizes and chances to win the "Adventure Begins at Your Library" Summer Reading Challenge Grand Prize.

• Children up to age 12 will be able to sign up for the summer reading challenge, an engaging incentive game designed to encourage children to read throughout the summer. Registrants will receive a goody bag, a summer reading game board to track their progress, and a free book.
• Tweens and teens entering grades 6 to 12 can register for the Teen Summer Reading program on Readsquared here. The first 100 teens who register will receive a goody-filled sports bag, two books of their choice, and three raffle tickets.

All participants in the Summer Reading Challenge will have the chance to accumulate raffle tickets throughout the summer, for an opportunity to win exciting end-of-summer prizes.

The Kickoff Party will once again feature the Bubble Bus, an immersive attraction that will delight children of all ages with bursts of bubbles and upbeat music. Beloved character, Bruce the Bear, will be joining in the fun on Saturday, and will be available to meet and greet children and take fun photos. Participants will also be able to create a pin to take home as a memento of the event. There will even be a backpack giveaway, while supplies last.

"The summer reading challenge is a great way to prevent the 'summer slide' and keep kids' literacy skills sharp while school is out," Bobby Simic, Head of Children's Services at the Library, said. "The kickoff party gets everyone excited about reading with a day of festivities and the chance to sign up for the challenge. We can't wait to see local families embracing the fun of books this summer. We are grateful for the support of the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library, whose contribution has made this event and the entire summer program possible."

The "Adventure Begins At Your Library" summer Kickoff Party is free of charge, but registration is requested and can be done here.

Other Youth Events At NRPL This Summer:

Starting on Thursday, July 11, and running for five weeks through Thursday, August 8, free Mexican dance workshops will be available to children ages 5, teens and adults. Led by professionals from the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, these workshops will provide participants with instruction in traditional Mexican dance, helping them gain an understanding of Mexican culture through dance, music and costume. Registration for the age-appropriate workshops can be done here. The dance workshops will lead up to a special performance on August 13, at 7 p.m. by the students from the dance workshops. This performance will mark the final event of the 2024 International Music and Dance Festival, an annual summer event.

In addition to the dance workshops, the New Rochelle Public Library has a full lineup of children's summer programs as part of the "Adventure Begins At Your Library" Summer Reading Challenge. Starting the week of July 8, both the main library and the Huguenot Children's Library will host a variety of weekly programs, including:

• Capoeira for Kids - disguised as dance and performed to traditional Brazilian music, participants learn specific defensive and offensive moves
• STEMTales where participants learn about STEM concepts and careers in this multimedia program with hands-on activities; live performances
• Wild Wednesdays with animals from Stamford Nature Center;
• Multicultural music and movement with Armelle,
• Fractured Fairy Tales - performances of favorites fairy tales with a twist, action films, and much more.

For teens, daily events will take place at 3 p.m. in the teen room at the main library:

• Different 3D printing projects (Mondays)
• Summer-themed arts and crafts (Wednesdays)
• Gaming and VR games (daily)
• Special summer activities (Fridays), beginning with a water balloon fight on Friday, June 28 and other favorites in following weeks, including Candy Bingo and a surprise international snacks tasting.

More information about the New Rochelle Public Library's summer programs and events, including special Saturday Summer Sings for children, can be found here. You can also contact the Main Library at 914-813-3716 or the Huguenot Children's Library at 914-632-8954.