• Race on over to the Robertsdale Public Library’s Summer Reading Program

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — It will be a race to the finish when the Robertsdale Public Library kicks off its Summer Reading Program on June 1.

Library Director Cynthia Nall and staff welcomes boys and girls ages 3 to 12 to register and kick off its Summer Reading Program from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday with free ice cream and lots of activities centered around this year’s theme, “Get Set, Ready, Read!”

“Others might have interpreted it differently, but when I saw the theme, I just naturally thought of racing,” Nall said, “so we’re going to incorporate all different types of racing into this year’s program.”

Summer reading participants are invited to cheer on city of Robertsdale employees and others as they participate in various types of races at the Wednesday kickoff, including lawn mowers, bucket trucks and four wheeled utility vehicles.

There will also be a pair of local drivers and participants will be able to get an up-close experience with a real racecar, Nall said.

This year’s program will run through the entire month of June ending with a “Super Hero Party” on June 29. An estimated 200 to 300 participate in the program every year.

Participants in this year’s program will read for “gold medals” in hopes of being crowned “Reading Champion.”

Children who read five easy books or two junior books will have their names placed in a weekly drawing for their age group (children must read at their grade level or higher and only books checked out at the Robertsdale Public Library will count toward the drawings).

A child may enter the drawing up to once a day. This weekly drawing is open to all children ages 3-12.

Also back by popular demand this year is the library’s “Reading With Nayla” program in which children are invited to read to the library’s resident Golden Retriever or one of her friends.

Readings can be scheduled at 20-minute intervals from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Children must sign up ahead of time for this program. For more information contact the library at 251-947-8960.

Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. a representative with the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will bring a different animal. All ages are welcome.

Story hour will be every Tuesday and Thursday at the library. On Tuesdays beginning at 2 p.m., story hour is open to 5- to 7-year-olds. Thursday’s story hour beginning at 10 a.m. is open to 3- to 4-year-olds. All participants will enjoy a story hour with crafts and puppet shows.

Every Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. the program will play host to performers at the PZK Hall on Highway 104.

Scheduled events include:

• June 8: Tom Foolery – Juggler Extravaganza.
• June 15: Dewayne Reynolds – Dr. Magical Balloons.
• June 22: Russell Davis -- Magic of Reading.
• June 29: Animal Tales – Nature’s Olympians.

Special events will be at 2 p.m. every Wednesday at the library including:

• June 8: Pooh Bear and Friends Picnic – Visit with Pooh and his friends and enjoy snacks.
• June 15: Hoedown – Come in your best Western gear and enjoy games, hot dogs and dancing to country music.
• June 22: Princess Tea Party – Come in your best royal attire.
• June 29: Super Hero Party – Come dressed as your favorite super hero and join your super friends for pizza and games.

Every Thursday at 2 p.m. the library will host local programing for 8- to 12-year-olds featuring games, races and food fun.

For more information on this and other activities, contact the library, 251-947-8960.