The Cochrane Public Library launched the 'TD Summer Reading Program' this past Saturday (June 15) to encourage children to keep on reading despite being off school.

Children from zero to twelve are invited to register in the largest Canadian bilingual program anytime this summer to earn prizes for merely reading anything and everything, including audiobooks. 

Andrea Johnston, Community Outreach and Program Librarian, says it doesn't matter whether children are reading on their own or being read to, it all counts. "Even if parents have really little, little ones they want to sign up, they are more than welcome to do that because all reading is good, including reading to your littles. The other thing that is really important to know is that it's a nationwide program, so even if you are going on vacation you can sign up and get your notebook. If you are in Canada you can drop by another participating library and collect prizes there or you can just save up all your pages and then come back to our library and collect twelve prizes at a time."

Encouraging children to keep up their literacy skills is so important, states Johnston, especially, to avoid the 'summer slide'. "Studies have shown that kids can lose an entire grade level of reading, so that is why we want to help. We don't ever want to discourage people from not joining the program or not reading because it's so important for kids not to lose those reading and math skills."

Reluctant readers also don't need to shy away, shares Johnston. "Audiobooks are fantastic ways to get kids excited about reading, there are some amazing narrators out there. There are some audiobooks where they hire a bunch of actors to do different voices and there is music, so that is another fantastic resource and we have lots here. Your library card gives you access to Tumblebooks which is animated picture books which are narrated as well. Lots of kids really like that and some find it an easier way to read. So all of that counts and the importance is just to keep reading over the summer."

Some people may have the idea that if it isn't a chapter book, it is just not beneficial. "Some people may have this misconception that listening to audiobooks isn't reading but it actually is. The brain is using those same muscles and it's just like when your parents read to you as a kid. You are still building the vocabulary, you are still hearing the story, and you are still using your imagination...so it absolutely counts."

Another option for non-chapter readers is graphic novels or comic type books. "Again those are great ways to get reluctant readers into reading. A lot of kids love 'Captain Underpants, Dork Diaries or Diary of a Wimpy Kid' because it's more approachable. Kids open it up and they see a few lines of text and a picture, and I think that can be really encouraging, especially, when they have read ten pages and feel good about themselves."

The TD Summer Reading Program is free to join and your Cochrane Public Library card gives your young reader access to all sorts of books and audiobooks to keep them busy over the holidays. If you also need a recommendation for your reading list, Johnston says just ask, and staff will be happy to help. 

The Cochrane Public Libary is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Sunday's noon until 5 in the afternoon. 

For more information on upcoming events, go HERE.