You can win prizes for pursuing your love of reading?

Launching a lifelong love of reading

Inquisitive young minds gathered at River Mill Park this past Saturday (June 24) for the Huntsville Public Library’s launch of the 2017 TD Summer Reading Club. The goal is simple: to help kids build a lifelong love of reading.

Live music, arts and crafts, and face painters made for an entertaining early afternoon, as families registered their readers in Canada’s biggest reading program.

Here’s how it works: members of the TD Summer Reading Club connect with readers from over 2,000 public libraries in communities across the country, and enjoy access to a variety of online goodies designed to spark and spread enthusiasm for great literature.

Amber McNair, Youth Services Librarian at Huntsville Public Library says the library is sweetening the pot for Huntsville members. “Tots, kids, teens and adults, everyone keeps track of what books they read and share with the library. Every book read gives you a ticket for a grand prize drawing in each age group.”

The Rotary Club has pitched in funding for prizes, and TD Canada Trust in Huntsville is fully supporting the library in their efforts.

“The TD Summer Reading Club is one of our long-standing programs. Every bank has their pillars of community building. Ours are children’s literacy, the environment and diversity,” explained Ingrid Van Vlymen, Branch Manager. “The local libraries take the lead, and we are there to support them so all communities can take advantage.”

This weekend’s launch even included a genuine and kind role model for the kids in attendance, one who credits the lessons she learned in novels for her growth as a person. Miss Canada 2017 Ciara Thompson made a special appearance at the Rotary Bandshell to read a couple of her favorite children’s books at story time. After great readings of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go and Unstoppable Me! by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Thompson stayed around to chat with families and smile for pictures. “I love reading,” she said. “I would say it has gotten me everywhere in my life.”

As an avid page turner, Ciara recommends Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson for high school and older readers. The novel tackles tragic themes concerning violence against women: a deplorable global issue that can be fought, in part, through youth literacy programs. After all, it has been said that education is the vaccine for violence.

If nothing else, sharing a love of reading is a great way to bring families together and have a little fun. “We always read to our kids from a very young age,” said Van Vlymen. “I miss it. College age kids don’t really want you to read to them anymore. Enjoy the time with your children.”

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