Summer Reading Programs For Kids & Adults Kick Off This Week At Mentor Public Library

Last year, 1,240 kids signed up for 's summer reading program -- said Kim Sidorick, the library's children services manager -- making it the library's biggest program ever.

But this summer the library wants to go even bigger and sign up 1,400 kids, Sidorick said.

In fact, the theme of this year's program is "Dream Big, Read!"

Children who are entering sixth grade or are younger can sign up for the program at of the Mentor Public Library.

For each hour a child reads this summer, they will get a raffle ticket that will enter them into a drawing. They can win a microscope, an Avengers Quinjet or gift cards for Claire's, Toys 'R Us, Barnes & Noble and more.

Additionally, if a kid reads for 15 hours they will get a lawn sign for their house letting everyone know that a Reading Champion lives there.

The library will also have several programs scheduled throughout the summer, encouraging kids to dream big.

For example, the library will host a cowboy hoedown June 21 at Read House, a party with real live ponies July 14 at the library's main branch and nursery rhyme olympics in which kids will see who can fetch a pail of water the fastest or jump highest over a candlestick July 26.

The festivities will reach their peak with the August 9 at Read House. In addition to seeing who won the prizes, the kids will also get a chance to meet the dancing Rockin' Robots.

By the way, the library has reading programs for teens and adults, as well. By reading books and participating in library programs, teens and adults can be entered into weekly raffles where they can win book bags and gift cards.

At the end of the summer, the library will draw grand-prize winners for teens and adults, and the can win iPods, e-readers and more. (All the prizes were made possible by the Friends of the Mentor Public Library.)

Teens and adults have several library programs of their own to choose from this summer. The highlights include the library's first ever concert series that will feature jazz jams and music from the Beatles, a series by on the outdoors, and the continuation of the library and .

"We're offering a ton of different programs this summer and touching on a lot of different interests," Mentor librarian Amanda Densmore said. "If you haven't checked out any of the programs at the library yet, you should definitely see some of the things we're doing this summer."

All library programs are free. However, people are asked to register for them beforehand.

Check out the library's event calendar to see what's coming this summer.