HUNTINGTON BEACH : Going by the Book for Fun, Profit

When the school books are shelved around this time each year, many students spend their summer as a vacation from reading.

But for Mitra Ebadolahi, summertime means a break from her studies so she can catch up on some reading just for the joy of it.

Mitra, 10, a participant in Huntington Central Library’s Summer Reading Program, said she read 150 books in the program last year. “And this year, I’m trying for 250,” she said.

Mitra and her mother, Farideh, were among 3,000 parents and children who flocked to the lawn outside the library Tuesday to enjoy the fifth annual children’s carnival launching the program, which runs through Aug. 16.

The throng attended a bilingual puppet show and lined up at scores of booths, featuring a toy raffle, a makeshift petting zoo, face painting, games, and an opportunity to register for the Summer Reading Program.

The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Children’s Library. The group, made up of about 30 mothers, raises money and organizes reading activities and attractions for children.

The eight-week program aims to encourage children to continue reading through the summer, offering prizes and other incentives. But many of the participants say that once they’ve become hooked on books, they find reading itself to be the main reward.

Mitra, encouraged in part by the reading program, said she has developed a passion for reading books that many of her schoolmates have for watching television and playing video games.

“I like science fiction and mysteries,” she said. “Once you start reading them, you cannot stop until you know what happens. Television is OK, but you get bored of it, and you just don’t learn anything. The same with video games.”

And, when Mitra finishes a good book, she passes it on to her mother, Farideh, who is still developing her English skills in between her workweek.

Farideh Ebadolahi said that when she moved her family from Iran to Southern California seven years ago, she was exposed not only to a dramatically different culture, but to a new world of ideas in the public libraries.

“We didn’t have any libraries in my country,” she said. Now, she is an avid library patron.

“I really believe in the library,” Ebadolahi said. “If we could get more children used to going to the library, we could get rid of so many problems, especially with the teen-agers.”

Children enrolled in the program are introduced to the services available at the library, and given a goal of reading eight books during the program, or one a week. Each time they return a book, a librarian checks off their program card and gives them a prize, usually a gift certificate to a fast-food restaurant or toy shop.

Those who complete eight books during the summer will be awarded a certificate of completion and an invitation to a party in August, which will feature a puppet show.

Children as young as 2 may enroll. Those too young to read may complete the program by having a parent read to them. About 3,000 children enrolled in last year’s program, and a greater number is expected this year, said Nanci Williams, the library’s children’s services coordinator.

Veronica Danesh, whose husband works as a freight shipper nine months a year in the United Arab Emirates, returns with her family to Huntington Beach each summer. And, upon each return, she enrolls her daughter, Sheena, in the library summer reading program.

“It’s great. It really gets kids involved,” Veronica Danesh said. “They really end up enjoying the library and enjoying books.”

Nine-year-old Kelli Zepeda, in her third year in the program, said she read 50 Nancy Drew books last year and hopes to surpass that number this summer. “I’ve been coming to this library for over three years. I love it here. This is the only place I come to get my books,” Kelli said.