Highland Public Library June Report

It’s summer reading time! This year at the Highland County Public Library children are invited to “Read for the Win!” Our reading incentive program encourages participants to read for a total of five hours to win a small prize. We have colorful reading logs on which to track progress. We’re also offering our popular big prize drawing this year. The prizes include a 7” Kindle Fire Tablet, a LEGO Nexo Knights Clay’s Rumble Blade, a LEGO Friends Heartlake Lighthouse, KEVA 50 Maple Planks, and a Magic Penny Magnet Kit. Entries for the drawing are given when children register for the reading program, return a reading log, or attend an activity program. We kick off our summer reading program with the magician, juggler, and comedian, Jonathan Austin, at 7:00 pm on Monday, June 13. Another opportunity to sign up for the reading program will be offered at the Highland Recreation Commission’s Community Summer Kick-off on Sat., June 18 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Monterey Pool Complex. The library will have a table set up with registration forms. Registration will also be available at the library throughout the summer where you can pick up an event calendar and a reading log.

Additional summer activity programs coming up shortly include “Bowling and Balloon Tennis,” on Tues., June 21 at 11:00 a.m. We’ll craft our own bowling pins and tennis racquets and play for the win. On Tues., June 29 from 12:30-2:00 p.m. the library will be hosting “Summer in the Garden” at the HCPS gardens where participants will learn more about gardening, the outdoors, and enjoy some healthy food. On Fri., July 1 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. the library is teaming up with the Recreation Commission to host a “Camp Fire Night” by the Pool Complex with campfire songs, local storytellers and s’mores by the fire. The popular “Sidewalk Chalk and Cupcakes” program will return on July 5 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Participants can share their artistic talents on the library sidewalk out front and then enjoy a sweet treat. A full calendar of events for the summer is available at the library.

This year for the first time we’re offering a separate Teen Summer Reading Program. Like the general program, five hours of reading is required to win a prize. Completed reading logs can be redeemed for books or $1.00 off coupons at Evelyn’s Pantry, Stonewall Grocery, and for the first time ever, the Highland County Pool. We also have coupons to catch a free fish at the Virginia Trout Hatchery. We’re offering the teens their own Big Prize for a drawing, a 7” 16GB Kindle Fire Tablet. Rising seventh graders and older are invited to choose the Teen Summer Reading Program as an alternative to the general summer reading program, which is open to participants 0-17 years old.

The summer season means hot new books for summer reading. Come check out James Patterson’s “15^th Affair,” Danielle Steel’s “The Apartment,” Justin Cronin’s “The City of Mirrors,” Richard Russo’s “Everybody’s Fool,” Chris Cleave’s “Everyone Brave is Forgiven,” Karen White’s “Flight Patterns,” Jude Deveraux’s “The Girl from Summer Hill,” Heather Graham’s “Haunted Destiny,” Louise Erdrich’s “LaRose,” John Hart’s “Redemption Road,” Don Mann’s “Seal Team Six: Hunt the Dragon,” Mary Kay Andrews’s “The Weekenders,” Nevada Barr’s “Boar Island,” and Rita Mae Brown’s “Tall Tail.” In non-fiction we have Joel Salatin’s “The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs,” Rich Cohen’s “The Sun & the Moon & the Rolling Stones,” and Nathaniel Philbrick’s “Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution.”