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)

Studies have shown students reading comprehension decline over the summer. Researchers call this effect the summer slump. To help combat the summer slump, the Benicia Public Library started the Summer Reading Program, which continues through Aug. 31.
The Summer Reading Program encourages children from ages 0-18 to pick up a book and begin the journey literature can provide. The library gives participants of the summer program a Bingo card, which they can fill out with the books they read over the summer. According to library staff, the Summer Reading Program and Bingo card give plenty of opportunities to keep up reading skills but also encourage children to do such activities as make their own joke book, go to a Farmers Market on Thursdays or Movie in the Park, or to try out a program for children at the library. When children complete a bingo, they can come to the library and collect rewards for reading. Aug. 31 will be the last day children can come to the library and get their rewards for reading over the summer. Teens can also participate in the Summer Reading Program, as there are events just for them including a series of “Lifehacks for Teens,” and a new twist to the prizes this year.
Allison Angell, the library’s youth services manager, estimates that 400 children have participated in the Summer Reading Program. Angell supervises both children and teens services at the library, which she has been a part of since she joined in 2000. Angell said the Summer Reading Program does not discriminate on what a child can read, and kids can read what they like. In the past ,children have read comic books and other alternative forms of literature and have still been able to fill out their Bingo cards.
“I think the Summer Reading Program is important because it helps kids keep their skills up in between school years and it’s fun to read,” Angell said. “Our Summer Reading Program as it’s structured this year gets them out into the community. Also, it’s just not counting how much time they read or how many books they read. It’s a Bingo card with all sorts or activities on it, so they can check off a box on their bingo card if they go to the Farmers Market or if they go to the James Lemos Pool or the Community Park or if they make paper airplanes. There’s all sorts of things on the Bingo card. We really wanted them to not only read but just try new things and get out into the community and do things that are neat and fun in Benicia.”
Before school starts at the end of next month, the library will begin their 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. It will be a program for preschoolers where, as the title says, they can win prizes if they can read 1,000 books before kindergarten.
The Benicia Public Library is located at 150 East L St.

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