School may be out for the summer, but learning is a year-round activity. One of the best ways to do that is by reading books, and resources abound to help both children and adults do just that.
Regional libraries are inviting readers of all ages to “Color Our World” through summer reading programs running from now through mid-August. This year’s theme invites literature lovers to explore the joy of reading and the power of stories to bring color, creativity, and connection into our lives.
Mercer County Library System
The Mercer County Library System’s program runs through August 9. Designed for children, teens, and adults, the program offers engaging activities and events that encourage learning, imagination, and fun throughout the summer months.
Visit your local MCLS branch to register and pick up a reading log. Children’s logs are for ages infant to 11 years old; teen logs are for ages 12 to 18. Write your name, age, and library branch in the log, and record how many minutes each day you spending reading or being read to. Bring the log back to your branch once per week to pick up a prize. Adults are also invited to participate; for each completed book in their log, participants receive an entry into your branch’s summer reading raffle.
For more information or to download a reading log, visit mcl.org/events/summer-reading-program.
In conjunction with this year’s summer reading theme, MCLS’ virtual programming for adults this July also revolves around the “Color Our World” theme.
The following three events take place online and are free to attend with registration at events.mcl.org.
Laura Keyes, an Illinois-based librarian who offers living history presentations and portrayals of historic women, presents “Every Color Has a Story: History on the Palette” on Wednesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. All the dyes, tints, hues, and shades of the colors around you can be traced back to a specific point in history. Keyes tells their stories and answers such questions as which came first, the fruit orange or the color orange? And was Lincoln Green named after Mary Lincoln?
Arts educator Janet Mandel presents “Henri Matisse: Master of Color, Magician of Modernism” on Monday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m. The remarkable career of Henri Matisse, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, fundamentally altered the course of modern art. Spanning six and a half decades, his vast creative output encompassed painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic arts, and paper cutouts. This talk examines his extraordinary life and many of his important works.
“The Paint Diva Method” is Cindy Gelormini’s presentation about the five mistakes people make when painting their homes, and how to fix them. Learn how to choose colors for walls, ceilings and trim, which paint to use, which finish to use, and how to sample colors correctly on Wednesday, July 23, at 7 p.m.
For younger audiences, MCLS libraries are also hosting a number of magic shows as part of the “Color Our World” theme. Registration is required at events.mcl.org.
“Color Your World with Books Magic Show,” presented by magician Brian Richards for ages 5 to 14, takes place Tuesday, July 8, at 10:30 a.m. at the Hightstown Memorial Branch, 114 Franklin Street, Hightstown.
Join magical story-teller Conrad Cologne in a laughter filled, interactive reading adventure, “Pigments of your Imagination,” on Thursday, July 10, at 11 a.m. at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville.
Cologne also presents a magic show for all ages on July 10 at 2:30 p.m. at the Hollowbrook Branch, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, Ewing.
Dennis the Magician performs on Saturday, July 12, at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the West Windsor Branch, 333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction. He also brings his magical circus show to the Hollowbrook Branch on Friday, July 18, at 2 p.m. This colorful magic show for ages 5 and up talks about the different things, people and animals that are part of the circus, including the circus tent, dancing elephants, and a missing tiger.
Princeton Public Library
Princeton Public Library, which is not part of the Mercer County Library System, offers youth summer reading programs open to preschoolers (birth to Pre-K), kids (rising kindergarten to fifth grade), and teens (rising sixth to 12th graders). Kids and teens can take on the 20-day challenge by reading for at least 20 days (in a row or not) to complete their log. Preschool participants must do 15 of 20 early literacy activities to complete their log. Prizes for completed logs will be available at the library while supplies last from July 5 through the conclusion of the program on August 15.
For more information, visit princetonlibrary.org/books-and-more/youth-summer-reading.
Princeton Public Library also offers a summer reading program for adults. To join, pick up a scorecard from the Welcome or Information Desk at the library. Read three books in a row (across, down, or diagonally) from at least three different genres and be entered into a grand prize drawing. Submit your completed challenges by August 15 to be entered into a grand prize drawing for an Individual Plus Annual Pass for Grounds For Sculpture. The second-place winner will win a $75 gift card to any Princeton restaurant of your choice. The third-place winner will receive a $50 gift card to Labyrinth Books. For more information, including curated book suggestions, visit princetonlibrary.org/books-and-more/adult-summer-reading.
Hamilton Public Library
Hamilton Public Library, also separate from the Mercer County system, invites young readers to track every 15 minutes of reading they complete this summer. Once every two weeks, readers can check in at the library to receive a “brag tag” and prize. Biweekly prizes include color changing bracelets (through July 5); rainbow springs (July 7 to 19); patterned rubber duckies (July 21 to August 2); and stuffed animals (August 4 to 16).
For more information or to register visit hamiltonnjpl.org/summer-reading-registration.
Trenton Free Public Library
The Trenton Free Public Library offers online registration for its summer reading program, through which readers from pre-school age through adult can log their summer reading progress and earn points toward certificates of achievement that can be printed and shared. The teen program, for ages 13 to 17, also operates on a point system, with a weekly prize awarded to the reader with the most points. Teens can also score bonus points for attending summer reading events at the library.
A summer reading kick-off party takes place Monday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring a chance to register for the summer reading challenge, browse books, and see a magic show by Brian Richards at 2 p.m.
For more information or to register visit trentonlibrary.readsquared.com.
Plainsboro Public Library
Plainsboro Public Library, located in Middlesex County, hosts summer reading programs for children, up to age 13, and teens and adults. Children 13 and under can pick up a paper log at the library and color in one book per day of reading. For every five days completed, participants can select a prize and earn a free book. Children can also log their reading through the Beanstack app, which is also the tracking method for teen and adult participants. Teens and adults earn one raffle entry per every five days of reading. Those who accomplish 30 days of reading become eligible to receive the grand prize as well as a free Kung Fu Tea smoothie.
For more information, visit plainsborolibrary.org/annual-reading-programs.
