Check It Out: The literary dog days of summer

Start the summer right by signing up for the Newport Beach Public Library’s 2014 summer reading program, Paws to Read.

This year’s theme celebrates animals, so share a good book about, or with, your furry friends. You might just pawsitively love summer reading.

The library’s summer program encourages reading for all ages, from children to adults, and runs from June 21 to Aug. 8.

For children, we will have a Reading Club and a Read-to-Me Club (for the little ones). Children as old as sixth-graders (or their parents) keep track of the time they read or early literacy activities they do on a game sheet to earn prizes.

Once they finish their game sheet, they win a free paperback book and an entry into the children’s grand prize drawing. And as a fun bonus this year, children can enter weekly prize drawings at their local branch by filling out book reviews.

Special programs featuring animal-themed crafts and entertainment will be held on Mondays at the Crean Mariners Branch Library, 1300 Irvine Ave.; Tuesdays at the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.; and Thursdays at both the Corona del Mar Branch Library, 420 Marigold Ave., and the Balboa Branch Library, 100 E. Balboa Blvd. Check the website for all the fun details.

For teens, every book read and reviewed earns an entry in the weekly prize drawing. The more books read and reviewed, the more chances teens have to win prizes such as gift cards to local shops, restaurants, movie theaters and bookstores. After submission of their first three reviews, teens will be able to choose a new paperback book. All review entries submitted will be placed into the teen grand prize drawing.

Adults participants can sign up at the library branch of their choice and read away the summer. After submission of their first three reviews, participants are eligible for the grand prize drawing and will be awarded a paperback book. All adult program participants are invited to join fellow readers for an end-of-the-summer wrap-up reception, with refreshments and prize drawings, at the Central Library from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 7.

Enhance your summer by stopping by the Newport Beach Public Library. Check our website for new and fun ways to participate in the library’s summer reading programs.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.