As part of this year’s national Collaborative Summer Library Program theme “Every Hero has a Story,” young readers throughout New Hampshire will be visiting their public libraries to check out and read books about heroes of all kinds.
Real-life heroes from our own communities, from around the world and throughout history, as well as from literature, mythology, comic books and more, will be celebrated all summer long.
The importance of summer reading has been known for more than a century. Students who read at least six books during the summer have been found to maintain or improve their reading skills, while those who do not read during the summer can lose a full grade level.
Adding to the fun of reading about heroes, children’s librarians across New Hampshire are creating special summertime programs based on the heroes theme, including crafts, games, sing-alongs, plays and other activities that make reading even more fun. Performers from the state library’s “Kids, Books and the Arts” roster will hold special events at libraries throughout the state.
To participate in “Every Hero has a Story,” families should visit their local public library. Most libraries ask children to register and then to keep track of how many books they read during the summer months or how much time they spend reading. Libraries may offer participants the opportunity to read whichever books they want, even if they’re not related to the heroes theme.
In keeping with the hero theme, some libraries are offering a summer reading program for teens, “Unmask!” This year’s theme for adult readers is “Escape the Ordinary.”
For more information, visit nh.gov/nhsl.
