Summer Reading 2016

Welcome to Summer Reading 2016! We hope you will have a great time with us this summer. We have reading incentive prizes for children and teens, plus special drawings for prizes for adults.  The theme this year for ages 0-11 is “On your mark, get set. . .READ!”  For ages 12-17 it is “Get in the game: READ!”  For adults the theme is “Exercise your mind: READ!”

This year we have a super kickoff event at the main library. Venessa Lewis, the “Louisiana Mermaid,” will appear at the main library Saturday morning June 4^th at 10 am.   We also have a great lineup of performances for all library locations with magician Mitch Richard June 7^th through 9^th, interactive theater with our own local Troupe D’ Evangeline June 28^th through 30^th, our local paper folding young wizard Ian Fontenot July 5^th through 7^th, storyteller Nathan Roberts July 12^th through 14^th, and yo yo ninja Matthew Noel July 19^th through 21^st.  Each of them will do shows at all of our library branch locations.   All events are FREE to the public, but remember space is limited and adults must accompany children younger than 12.

Each branch will also have local programs and crafts and their own special surprises. Plus, we have excellent tote bags and T-shirts for sale at bargain prices.

Early registration begins May 31^st. No prizes are given out until June. When you register, you will receive a FREE special themed plastic drawstring bag with bookmark, event calendars, reading log, pencil, tattoo, and a Summer Reading brochure explaining in detail how the program works. You can also download the reading logs, event calendars, and brochure from this webpage. You can also view more information about each of our special grant-sponsored performers.

To earn a treasure chest drawing, each reader reads 10 books. For older children, we encourage them to read at least 2 of the 10 books on their reading level. The other 8 books can be shorter books read to younger brothers or sisters or cousins, etc. This helps in two ways: 1) it keeps older children from being discouraged by having to read too many pages before they become eligible for a small prize. 2) It helps foster the love of reading by encouraging older children to read to younger ones, and it makes this a family project.

After a reader earns a prize, he or she then reads another 10 books to be eligible for another prize. Again, older children/teens are encouraged to read at least 2 of the 10 books on their reading level and also read aloud to younger children 8 shorter books on the younger child’s level.

We limit treasure chest prizes to no more than two per week and no more than twelve maximum. The last day to turn in reading logs and receive treasure chest prizes is Friday, July 29^nd except for TURKEY CREEK which is Thursday, July 28^th. Sorry, no exceptions. To find out more, download our special Summer Reading brochure and our calendars of June and July events. We also have reading logs available on line as well as at each library branch.

For adults, we have “Exercise your mind: read” prize drawings in June, July, and August.  Three lucky adult winners per library branch per month will receive drawing prizes.  For more information about how to participate in the adult Summer Reading program, please call 363-1369 or the branch nearest you, or download our Summer Reading brochure on this webpage.

I would like to especially thank our sponsors for Summer Reading 2016:  Louisiana Decentralized Arts Funding as administered by the Acadiana Center for the Arts (performer grants); Cabot Corporation, Friends of the Library for prizes and supply grants, Basile State Bank, and Pine Prairie Energy Center. Extra special thanks to our wonderful summer volunteers for working with the library staff to help make this a fantastic summer for all ages!

We are still actively seeking donor support for Summer Reading and welcome donations. Please contact Suzy Lemoine at 363-1369 or [email protected] for more information.

Come join us and help make this a great summer!

Mary Foster-Galasso
Library Director

Mitch Richard discovered that telling jokes in high school was his passion. Mitch learned to make balloon animals at the age of sixteen from a local balloon artist. He never thought that that moment in time would be the guiding force of creating an entertainer. At 22 years old he went to work traveling the country with the the Rennaissance Festival. There he learned to juggle and make people laugh with his comedy. Mitch was 27 when he asked a local magician to teach him some magic and the rest, as they say, is history. Nowadays Mitch lives in Lafayette and owns MLRmagic.com, a family entertainment company.

June 7: Turkey Creek Library 10 a.m., Ville Platte, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
June 8: Pine Prairie Library 10 a.m., Mamou Library 2 p.m.
June 9: Basile Library 10 a.m., Chataignier Library 3 p.m.

Troupe d’Evangeline Community Theatre was founded in 2012 by board members who include a published author, an artist and teacher, a professional actor and teacher, a newspaper reporter, and a financial planner with marketing experience.Travis Fontenot is the artistic director for the Troupe. He has a bachelors of science in theatre with a concentration in performance and directing. He recently starred in the production of Tuesdays With Morrie in Lafayette, La, at Theatre 810, a community theater in Lafayette, and he has been the department head for the theatre program at Pine Prairie High School in Evangeline Parish for the past six years.

June 28: Turkey Creek Library 10 a.m., Ville Platte 2pm and 6pm
June 29: Pine Prairie Library 10 a.m., Mamou Teen Center 2 p.m.
June 30: Basile Library 10 a.m., Chataignier Village Hall 3 p.m.

Nathan J. Roberts is a humorist who uses magic, storytelling, music, and lots of audience interaction in his performances. Since 1993, he has performed at schools and libraries presenting programs on reading and how to build better self-esteem through humor. Nathan has performed in the US and parts of Canada as well as Ireland, Germany, Russia, and Africa. He is also a musician and composes most of the music for his performances. Nathan currently resides in Gilber, LA. See him on Youtube and facebook.com.

July 12: Turkey Creek Library 10 a.m., Ville Platte 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
July 13: Pine Prairie Library 10 a.m., Mamou Teen Center 2 p.m.
July 14: Basile Library 10 a.m., Chataignier Village Hall 3 p.m.

Matthew Noel artfully brings his stage shows to audiences of all ages using magic, yoyos, juggling, illusions and comedy. Over the past 10 years he has performed in Louisiana, Mississippi, and abroad. This year he is presenting a new performance called “Play” which will focus on how important play and humor are in the creative process. Mr. Noel began his illusion and yoyo training while living in Singapore where he studied with a Master Artist. In 1999 he brought his skills back home to the United States where he performs for special events, libraries and schools. He can be found on Youtube, Facebook and his website, www.magicyoyo.com.

July 19: Turkey Creek Library 10 a.m., Ville Platte Library 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
July 20: Pine Prairie Library 10 a.m., Mamou Teen Center 2 p.m.
July 21: Basile Library 10 a.m., Chataignier Village Hall 3 p.m.