Library's reading program ends with magical finale

More than 50 kids along with parents, grandparents and babysitters gathered at the library last Wednesday to participate in the grand finale of the Medford Public Library’s Summer Reading Program Series.

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Regional Library System and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, this summer’s program — themed “Catch the Beat at Your Library” — was designed to keep children reading through the summer months.

“The goal was to read and enjoy as many books as possible,” said Phyllis Breslow, the Children’s Department librarian. “We didn’t encourage kids to speed read through the books — just read them and enjoy them.”

Throughout the summer, children entering grades 2 through 6 received stickers for each book they read, and placed their stickers on a giant poster in the library’s Children’s Department to attempt to find the hidden “secret spot.” Younger children also received stickers for the books they read, and used them to decorate their personal reading booklets.

Breslow said children participating in the program collectively read more than 800 books.

“The more books you read, the more you have fun,” said Breslow to a crowd of attentive children who had gathered for the celebration on Aug. 15. “The more you dream about the world and the more you can use your imagination.”

Breslow presented Barnes & Noble gift certificates to three children who participated in the program. Ryan Heard, winner of the Young Readers’ Club, was selected at random. Alexa Normile, who found the secret spot on the poster, was the winner of the grades 2 to 3 age group. Zoe Pancic also found the secret spot and won for grades 4 to 6. Every child who participated in the program received a certificate as well.

Pancic and her mother, Theodora Stratis, came to the library at least once a week to collect stickers for being in the program.

“She read every day, morning, noon and night — even with a flashlight,” said Stratis.

Pancic’s favorite book this summer was the first Harry Potter book, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

“It was a fun book,” said Pancic. “Hermione was my favorite character because she reads a lot.”

Parents were very satisfied with the summer reading program and thought it was a great motivation to keep their children reading and learning even though school was not in session.

“It was easy-going, not high-pressure,” said Allison Andrews, whose son Charlie participated in the program. “The kids were proud to have their reading recognized.”

Andrews, 5, will be entering first grade at the Columbus School in September. According to the dozens of colorful stickers in his reading booklet, Charlie and his mother read 37 books together this summer.

“My favorite book is ‘Storybook Dictionary’ [by Richard Scarry],” said Charlie. “I pick certain books because I think they’ll be interesting. I need books that are more for big kids because I’m getting pretty old.”

While the statewide participation numbers for this summer’s program aren’t in yet, the MRLS reported that more than 137,000 children participated in the program last year.

“We, of course, hope to surpass that [number] this year,” said Susan Babb, youth services consultant for the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System, via e-mail.

As a final treat for the children, local magician Dan Bybell performed entertaining tricks for those who gathered for the celebration. For a full hour, Bybell captivated his young audience by making handkerchiefs disappear, correctly guessing which cards had been picked by volunteers plucked from the audience and made more than eight magic wands appear at once.