In addition to being the season of beaches, ice cream and golden sunshine, summer is also the perfect time to dig out those story books and engage in enrichment-based reading, that is, as children would say—thankfully, not for school. This summer, there are a lot of local programs within Baltimore County and Baltimore City that aim to make reading fun.
Here are five bibliophile-friendly programs for kids:
1. Baltimore County Public Library
Following the theme Adventure Begins At Your Library, the Baltimore County Public Library’s annual summer reading challenge is underway through Aug. 31.
Kids can use the Beanstack App or a paper game board to participate in this reading challenge. After reading for 10 hours, they will be able to claim prizes which include memberships to The Maryland State Fair, Maryland Zoo in Baltimore or National Aquarium. Participants can also win a Nintendo Switch!
2. Summer Reading and Skills Program at Loyola University, Maryland
Offered by the School of Education at Loyola University Maryland, the Summer Reading and Skills Program is taught by instructors from the Institute of Reading Development.
The program promises “your child will get a jumpstart on the next school year and be ready to make it a big success,” and offers weekly classes that provide constant engagement with books, storylines and characters, according to the program website.
To speak with a reading program advisor and discuss a structure that works best for your child, call 1-800-964-8888.
3. University of Maryland Summer Reading Program
Presently accepting applications for its wait list, the University of Maryland Summer Reading Program is specifically designed for students in kindergarten through seventh grade who are experiencing challenges with reading. According to its website, the program’s individualized curriculum which involves “teachers who work in teams to teach small groups of children” helps “address individual needs.”
The program runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon through July 25.
4. Summer Break Baltimore 2024
Summer Break Baltimore 2024 cultivates a combined love for reading and literacy.
In addition to a productive reading experience, the program also offers a free Summer Break Baltimore T-shirt upon registration and a free book—with titles varying with availability—to add to your home library through August while supplies last! Registration also earns entries for monthly prize drawings!
To participate in the program, stop by your nearest Enoch Pratt location each time you
read a book or attend a library program. Summer Break Baltimore runs through the end of August.
5. The Jewish Library of Baltimore Summer Reading Program 2024
This highly digitized initiative kicked off the first week of June and runs through Sept. 6.
The Jewish Library of Baltimore’s Summer Reading Program caters to a wide age group from birth to age 18. Parents must register their children online, choose five or more books according to age group, and then children can begin reading.
The program also provides readers with a bookmark to track their reading progress, which they can turn in upon completion of the program to be eligible for prizes to celebrate their reading accomplishments.
