Bubble Bus, Elephant & Piggie 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.

The library announced that it will be launching the "All Together Now" 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.

• 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. Once registered, teens will receive a 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 characters, Elephant and Piggie, will be joining in the fun on Saturday, and will be available for fun photos. Participants will also be able to create a craft to take home as a memento of the event.

"We are thrilled to launch the 'All Together Now' Summer Reading Challenge with our exciting Kickoff Party," Tom Geoffino, Director of the New Rochelle Public Library, said. "This program is a fun and engaging way to keep children and teens reading, and visiting the library, all 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. We invite families to join us as we embark on a summer filled with imagination, learning, and fun for all."

The "All Together Now" summer Kickoff Party is made possible with support from the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library and is free of charge. To attend the event, registration is requested and can be done here.

Other Youth Events At NRPL This Summer:

Starting on Thursday, July 6, and running for six weeks through Thursday, August 10, free Mexican dance workshops will be available to children ages 5 and up. 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 workshops can be done here. The dance workshops will lead up to a special performance on August 16, at 7 p.m. by the students from the dance workshops. This performance will mark the final event of the 2023 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 "All Together Now" Summer Reading Challenge. Starting the week of July 10, both the main library and the Huguenot Children's Library will host a variety of weekly programs, including:

• Architecture workshops with ArchforKids
• Mad Science hands-on science workshops
• Wild Wednesdays with animals from local nature centers
• Multicultural music and movement with Armelle
• Wiggles and giggles with Dawny Dew
• Disney film sing-a-longs

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 30.

More information about the New Rochelle Public Library's summer programs and events, including special Saturday Summer Sings for children and a ukulele and improv workshop for teens, 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.

Find out more about The New Rochelle Public Library (NRPL) on their website.