The Morgantown Public Library System unveiled the theme of its summer 2021 reading program Wednesday.
The Tails and Tales 2021 Summer Reading Program is recommended for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Participants are asked to log their books on the Beanstack website or app, which serves as an interactive storage location for reading challenges and events.
Through the program, participants can earn brag-tag prizes for any kind of reading progress, including by visiting a book trail and sharing a photo on social media; reading and logging books; reading a book on a specific animal; telling library staff a cool animal fact — or just coming into the library.
Virtual and physical events will be held as part of the Tails and Tales program. For all in-person events, social distancing is recommended.
- 10 a.m. June 9, 16, 23 and 30 and July 7 and 14: Participants can enjoy a Tails and Tales Story Time on the event lawn at West Virginia Botanic Gardens. Registration is required.
- June 7-13: Participants can go to any MPLS branch location to pick up a cat craft kit including materials, instructions and recommended reads related to that week’s cat theme.
- June 7-14: Participants can take part in the virtual Animal Friend Read Aloud Challenge wherein they will submit a picture of themselves reading to their favorite animal friend to earn a summer reading program brag tag.
- June 26: Participants can venture out to the Core Arboretum and join Mountaineer Audubon for a guided bird walk on the rail-trail, where they will learn to identify birds. Interested individuals should reserve their spot.
- June 14-20: Participants can go to any MPLS branch location to pick up two dog crafts — a paper plate craft and a dachshund construction paper craft. All kits contain craft materials, instructions and recommended reads related to dogs.
- June 21-27: Participants can go to any MPLS branch location to pick up an owl craft kit with which they will create a wide-eyed owl made of tissue paper. Kits contain craft materials, instructions and owl recommended reads.
- June 28-July 4: Participants can stop by any MPLS branch location to pick up a cardinal craft kit. Hand-shaped paper cardinals have red feathers to give homemade birds a 3D effect. All kits contain craft materials, instructions and recommended reads relating to cardinals.
- July 1-31: Participants can read while enjoying fresh blueberries by partaking in the Blueberry Book Trail at Sterns Berry Farm. “Blueberry Shoe” by Ann Dixon will be displayed page-by-page at pop-up board stations around the farm.
- July 5-17: Participants can view “Pig the Slob” by Aaron Blabey, displayed in an identical fashion along the Krepps Park Dog Park Trail.
- July 5-11: Participants can stop by any MPLS branch location to receive a penguin craft kit, which includes everything needed to make a penguin out of wooden sticks — including paint and pom poms for the penguin’s feet, as well as recommended penguin reads.
- July 8-12: Participants’ beloved stuffed animals can spend the night at the Morgantown Public Library downtown location or the Cheat Area Public Library. Participants must register their stuffed animal online prior to drop-off and will receive Facebook updates about their animal’s adventures throughout the weekend. Participants will also have the option to join a virtual read-aloud.
- July 12-18: Participants can visit any MPLS branch location to receive a craft kit based on “Elephant and Piggie” by Mo Willems. Included is everything needed to make Piggie and Elephant puppets from paper bags, as well as recommended books.
- July 18-31: Participants can see “Duck on a Bike” by David Shannon displayed page-by-page on pop-up board stations along the White Park Trail.
MPLS Library Director Sarah Palfrey said Tails and Tales is the 2021 theme for the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), a national reading program designed by librarians for libraries.
CSLP works to generate interest in reading and library use, including by developing and implementing summer reading programs nationwide, public service announcements, and engaging in other activities that promote reading and library use.
By participating in not only a statewide program, but a national one, MPLS and other libraries are making summer reading programs more recognizable.
Palfrey said MPLS is engaging in this program to meet a goal that it has continuously established for itself.
“The goal has always been to encourage our patrons to read what they want, whether it be books, magazines, comics or audiobooks. We hope that by exploring a variety of reading materials, they will find their next favorite book and then share it with someone else,” she said.
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