Newton Public Library celebrates summer reading program with kick-off party May 30

Newton Public Library is once again giving kids and families big incentives to keep reading long after school is out for summer vacation.

Summer Reading Kick-Off will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. May 30 on the library lawn. All the kids that register for summer reading at the library will receive a complementary book bag with a coupon for a child’s free admission to the Blank Park Zoo and a free ice cream treat from Sea Turtle Ice Cream Company.

Both gluten-free and dairy-free items will be available.

The kick-off event is sponsored by a generous donation from the Schiller Family Foundation. Of course to help celebrate this momentous occasion is the pigeon from Mo Willem’s “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” books, who will be on site at the event to greet the little readers.

As part of the summer reading program, kids are encouraged to track their reads. They can count items read to them or items read independently. Each time they complete a row on the book log they will receive a charm that can be added to the silicone bracelet they receive, or the charms can be added to Croc-style shoes.

Babies and toddlers will receive a board book and a bottle of bubbles instead of the charms when they complete the book log.

All children that finish the book log this summer will receive a free kid’s meal coupon to the local Hardee’s, a Culver’s kid’s meal award and two Iowa Cubs tickets to the “Homerun Reader” game at 1 p.m. Aug. 4. The library also has a calendar of special events for all ages this summer.