Portsmouth Public Library - 2007 Summer Reading Program

	T.J. Readers Virginia Trails... is the theme for our 2007 Summer Reading Program!	Download and/or Print your Summer Reading Calendars here!
What is it?: Louise Rapoport Fenster Summer Reading Program Where is it?: All Portsmouth Public Libraries When is it?: June 18th, 2007 through July 30th, 2007 Who can attend?: Any child who wants to READ fun books and EARN cool prizes over the summer! How do I?: Register in person at any of the branches. Then READ...... Why would I?: Because it's FUN! You can earn FREE PRIZES! See Free Programs!

Meet PT Bear, a good friend of TJ Reader! PT Bear has his library card and went on his own Virginia trail throughout Portsmouth this past summer. He took his shades, binoculars, a Portsmouth walking tour pamphlet and his favorite book "Bad bears in the big city" to help him learn about Portsmouth. He went to the Children's Museum, the Elizabeth River ferry, the Lightship Portsmouth, the Naval Shipyard Museum, the Confederate Monument, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, the Portsmouth waterfront and the big Fresnel lens. He learned a lot about the history of Portsmouth and had lots of fun! Check out PT Bear's Portsmouth Virginia Trail pictures!

Reading gets better when you practice it!
Kids lose school-year reading gains over the summer if they don't read (especially disadvantaged kids)!
Kids who attended a summer library program read better than those in a summer camp program!
Kids in a summer library program are more likely to read at their grade level or above than their non-participating peers!
Kids in a summer program who visited the library and did free reading made more reading test gains than those in a traditional language arts summer program!

Stephen Krashen, author of The Power of Reading (Libraries Unlimited, 1993), concludes that reading is the most powerful tool available for building vocabulary as well as the ability to read, write, spell, and comprehend. In addition, voluntary reading (such as summer reading programs) has a major impact on children's literacy progress. For example, in 38 of 41 studies, students using voluntary reading did as well or better in comprehension tests than students given only traditional skill-based reading instruction.

A Free, Convenient, Fun Program that lets you Earn Free Prizes & See Free Programs!