Library to encourage children to read through playing summerlong Bingo game

Benicia Public Library will be hosting its Summer Reading Program, where kids can earn prizes by reading and taking part in community activities. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

Summer is a time for children to have fun without feeling pressured by the copious amounts of school work they received for the previous 10 months. As beneficial as this could be for students’ well-beings, it could have a negative impact on their enthusiasm to learn. Children who opt to forgo any form of reading over the summer might be less likely to read when school starts up again. Thankfully, the Benicia Public Library’s Summer Reading Program is back to make kids want to dive into a book or many during the year’s hottest months.

The Summer Reading Program has been a staple at the library for a long time, and it has gone through several different formats. Previously, kids ages 3 to 14 would get a prize for reading 100 different books over the summer and writing down the titles. In other summers, kids would write down the amount of time spent reading. According to Allison Angell, the library’s head of youth services, the program will be doing Bingo cards which would not only encourage children to read but also go out into the community.

“Reading is important, but there are other things that are really important also,” she said. “This year, we’re trying to prioritize people being creative and doing creative play and also people getting out into the community and doing things that are interesting.”

Some of the Bingo squares involve community-based activities like going to the beach at the end of 9th Street Park, going to the Benicia Certified Farmers Market and attending an Arts Benicia event. Other activities encourage children to be creative as they do things like make a joke book, try a new recipe, play charades with family or create puppet shows. Kids who get five squares in a row can bring their cards to the library and receive rewards such as a free book or a coupon for a burger.

Angell said the idea was to encourage kids to be creative without being given too much direction.

“We want to encourage creative play,” she said. “I feel like a lot of kids these days don’t always have the encouragement to do things that are self-directed and made up on their own. If we were to say ‘Put on a puppet play,’ and we’re not giving them guidance, we’re not giving them puppets (and) we’re not giving them the script. I’m hoping that will encourage them to think of new things on their own and be really creative on their own.”

In addition, the library will be offering free weekly events for the Summer Reading Program. Events aimed at kids ages 3 to 11 will be held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. until July 26. Tonight, children will be able to enjoy the mind-blowing tricks of Magic Dan. Other events include a musical performance by Bingo Schmingo, a performance of “The Tortoise and the Hare” fable by the Caterpillar Puppets and a bubble show by the Bubble Lady.

Middle schoolers ages 11 to 14 will also have their own weekly events every Wednesday at 7 p.m. until July 27. The fun begins tomorrow with a presentation of live bats by Northern California Bats out of Davis. In the ensuing weeks, middle schoolers will be able to take part in a dinosaur bone excavation, upcycle old T-shirts, build terrariums, receive a visit from Benicia Makerspace and more.

Angell said reception to the Summer Reading Program has been really positive so far.

“It’s looking like we’ll have more sign-ups this year than last,” she said. “People are really enthusiastic about this new way to do summer reading.”

Kids will be able to collect rewards for the Summer Reading Program through Aug. 31. The library is located at 150 East L St. For more information, call the library at 746-4343.