“Fizz, Boom, Read!” Summer reading at Randolph libraries gets underway

“Fizz, Boom, Read!” – the Randolph County Public Library’s science-themed 2014 Summer Reading Program – gets underway with performances at all seven libraries by “The Amazing Teacher,” a.k.a. educator/entertainer Steve Somers, and over 160 storytimes, performances, hands-on activities, movies and more for children, teens and adults through June and July.

The program runs June 9-August 1. Children can sign up to tracks books, hours or pages read in return for reading rewards, and teens and adults can register for prizes and other reading incentives.

Schedules and complete details can be found at www.randolphlibrary.org/summer and at your local library.

For children and families, Somers will bring his fast-paced, high-energy reading adventure to all the libraries as follows:

·        Archdale, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 25 (at Archdale Parks & Recreation)

·        Asheboro, 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 25

·        Franklinville, 2 p.m. Thursday, June 26

·        Liberty, 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 17

·        Ramseur, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 26 (at the Ramseur Municipal Building)

·        Randleman, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 19;

·        Seagrove, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 17.

In July, Mad Science of the Piedmont will bring highly interactive, action-oriented science demonstrations each of the libraries. In between, all the libraries will offer a range of weekly storytimes, performances and other activities.

Highlights will include Fish the Magish, Big Bang Boom, Snakes Alive with Ron Cromer, Irania Patterson of Criss Cross Mango Sauce, and more. Science activities will include beekeeping, butterflies, crime scene investigation,  spaghetti engineering, meteorology, birds of prey and much more.

In addition, Asheboro library will offer a weekly Summer Science Experience for ages 4-12; Every Child Ready to Read Fridays for children age 0-5 and parents/caregivers; and Lego Free Build Fridays.

Meanwhile, teens are invited to “Spark a Reaction” by submitting book reviews or tracking reading minutes for weekly and grand prizes. Events will include robotics demonstrations, a visit from a NASA ambassador, a talk by author Brendan Reichs, a book discussion of The Fault in Our Stars, and the 6^th Annual Lego Mania competition.

Teens in Randleman can join in weekly Mad Science Workshops to learn about optical illusions, laser light, space, weather and more.

Adults can explore “Literary Elements” and submit brief book reviews for weekly drawings and grand prizes. As Asheboro, guest speakers will talk about the top 10 food destinations in the Piedmont and Sandhills; mindfulness training; and natural supplements and vitamins. Fox 8 meteorologist Van Denton will offer advice on becoming “Weather-Wise.”

Craft programs at Randleman will include bow-making, corn husk angels and book angels.

The Summer Reading Program is primarily sponsored by Friends of the Library with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, through the Randolph Arts Guild. It’s part of a national effort to keep children reading during the break from school; research shows that kids who read during the summer do better in school the next year.