Complete one READ square by setting a challenge. 

A traditional summer reading challenge takes the form of reading a set number of books, or a set number of pages, or even a set number of minutes. Recently, reading challenges have expanded in scope and offer many ways to broaden your reading horizons. You can choose any reading challenge that fits your needs, and here are a few suggestions.

Just the Data

• Use our 62 Days of Summer tracking sheets to keep track of basic numbers. Write down titles as you read them, or color in time units. Choose the best method for you. 
• Try Scholastic Summer Read-a-Palooza Tracker to track your reading streaks and unlock book donations.
• If you’re focusing on numbers this summer, you might find that committing to a Goodreads challenge helps you keep track of your efforts and you can maintain it over time.

Gentle Guidance

One of the most basic reading challenges is Gene Luen Yang’s Read Without Walls Challenge. Only three books long, you read one book about a character who’s unlike you, one book about a topic you know nothing about, and one book in a format you don’t usually read.

Looking for Extras

• Barnes and Noble has a Summer Reading journal for grades 1-6. Print and fill out the journal, and then it becomes a coupon for a free book.
• Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor has a Summer Reading Club for grades K-8 in which participants can read to earn a series of $6 coupons.
• Join SYNC, a free audiobook summer program for teens and gain access to select free audiobooks through July.

Laser Focus

Are you keen on a theme? Love westerns, or want to only read mysteries this summer? Penguin Random House has compiled a series of 20-book challenges all centered on different themes. There are even themes designed for readers who want to expand their horizons, including one made up of debut novels and one with many different genres.

Complete one READ square by attending a virtual program or using our resources to DIY a library program at home. For our full program listings, please take a look at our Program Calendar. For programs that perfectly fit the READ square, and further suggestions, please read on.

Storytimes

• Looking for stories, songs, rhymes, and fun? Try our Far and Away Storytime on Wednesdays.
• Want to create your own storytime? Explore our Share a Story blogs that are full of story, song, and rhyme suggestions that you can use at home.

At-Home Literacy Ideas

Explore our Lit Lab handouts for early literacy activity suggestions that you can use at home. Visit our Kids page and scroll down to our list of Lit Lab handouts by theme.

Virtual Book Clubs

Click on the program titles below for descriptions and registration information.

• This is NOT a Book Club (for patrons ages 10-13)
• The Advanced English Language Learners Book Club
• Fiction eBook Discussion Group
• Nonfiction eBook Discussion Group
• Email Book Club

Create your own virtual book club using Hoopla Book Club Hub, or stay tuned for new programs at OverDrive's Together We Read. Get suggestions for how to host online. 

Virtual Writing Group

Attend our Adult Writers Group and make writing a regular part of your literary life.

Return to the main READ blog post.

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program.

Complete a READ square by reading something, or by doing something to put yourself in a literary frame of mind. So whether you already have a book in mind, or you need a little help getting started, we have some ideas for you.

• Besides just searching our catalog, you can explore our May We Suggest page, full of searchable booklists by topic and age. You can even request personalized recommendations from the comfort of your own home.
• Have you lost your reading motivation? Times of stress can diminish your attention span and focus. Take a look at some of our ideas for igniting your reading spark.
• Need to get out of the house? Take a walk to find a Little Free Library and take a book or leave a book.
• Need a way to connect? Find a reading buddy and read together.
• Giving your eyes a break? Looking for something different? Try a bookish podcast.
• Looking to stretch your reading muscles? Try one of our challenges to take you to the next level.
• Investigate our bookish program offerings, and suggestions for creating library-like programs at home.

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program.

Hey Kids,

This year Children's Book Week is from May 4 to May 10, 2020. It's a week dedicated to one of my favorite things. Every day I sit by the window surrounded by shelves of these amazing treasures. These books hold so many amazing, fantastic, touching, beautiful, funny, and inspiring stories and it is such a pleasure to see them go home with all of you.

I won't be able to see you this week, but you can still check out children's ebooks so that you can celebrate all your favorite titles. Every Child a Reader also provides printable resources to help you join the fun:

• Color these these coloring book pages, made by children's book illustrators.
• Print and complete these bookmark and activity sheets, created by other children's book illustrators.
• Take the Children's Book Week Challenge, full of ideas to keep you reading all week long.
• Use this Book Sharing Tool to recommend your favorite story to a friend.
• Color and hang up this blank version of the 2020 Children's Book Week poster.

I hope you enjoy these activities. You could even come up with your own way to commemorate Children's Book Week at home. If you want to share your celebration, use #BookWeek2020 and #BookWeek2020atHome to join the festivities on social media. I miss you.

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

Hey Kids,

Books are amazing things. I love the stories and the illustrations and the feel of the pages and the sound of a good narrator. But have you ever tried to make yourself a part of a book? The #bookface trend gives you a chance to do just that. 

The goal: to make it look like you and the book are one. Choose a book with a cover or illustration that features a body part. Then, line up your body part with the book body and have someone snap a photo. If the image matches you in size, hold the book close to you; if the image is smaller than you, hold it farther away. To make it more realistic, you could even add costumes.

I took a #bookface photo with a great Rapunzel cover (pictured). But there are many book covers and illustrations that would make a great #bookface. I've listed a few below, but want to see other ones that you come up with!

Bear Hugs, 

Thorndyke

Create your own storytime, using resources from the Canton Public Library. Songs and stories can be a fun activity for adults and children to enjoy together, but reading aloud can be enjoyable for any age.

Are you someone who can't make our regular storytimes? Maybe you have to visit someone in a nursing home. Maybe you're a baby-sitter or an older sibling interested in entertaining young ones. Or maybe you just love stories for yourself. Whatever your reason, you can take advantage of a few great resources:

• Storytime Kits: take home a case with a book, puppet(s), rhymes, and a CD
• Online Reading: BookFlix, StoryWeaver, and Tumblebooks have stories ready-to-go
• Share a Story: get inspired by past storytimes done by our librarians

Experience To Go Kits are created to help you pursue your best life and try something new. The Screen-Free Summer Kit is filled the tools to fill your day without staring at a screen. We’ve included a book of activities and games from the pre-screen era, a deck of cards, dice, a notebook, and a bag full of things to do to chase away boredom.

If you can’t make it to the library to get a kit, but want to plan some screen-free fun, here are some great resources to get you started:

• Don’t forget your 62 Days of Summer starter kit!
• Discover Magazine, a guide to fun and learning in the township, courtesy of Canton Leisure Services.
• Michigan Adventure Pass– use your library card to check out free and reduced admission to attractions across the state, as well as select Michigan State parks and National Park Service sites.
• Of course, the library is full of books to help you plan out some screen-free time!

The Canton Public Library wants to help you make summer the best part of your year. Our Experience to Go Kits for 62 Days of Summer are designed to give you entertaining and informational experiences to help you enjoy your summer to the fullest. We've created a variety of kits to for you to have fun and make memories all summer long.

From June 1st until the end of August, we will have the following kits:

• Explore Outdoors: Capture summer with a telescope cell phone lens, butterfly net, Nature Connection workbook, and a journal to share your observations.
• Night Sky: Learn about constellations, planets and more with this fun kit which includes Celestron binoculars, a pocket sized night sky star finder and star field guide.
• Road Trip: Wipe-clean activity books, travel bingo, board games, and more will make the miles fly by and help everyone enjoy those long summer car trips.
• Screen-Free Summer: We’ve included a book of activities and games from the pre-screen era, a deck of cards, dice, a notebook, and a bag full of things to do to--screen-free!
• Summer STEM: Seven days of fun science activities.

Spring is here! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the end of the school year is in sight-but it's no time to stop learning. The Engage Your Brain Experience To Go Kit offers myriad ways to grow and stretch that space between your ears, to learn new things, and keep your mind sharp so you can live your best life. Try seven days of brain teasers, or a stimulating game of Set, or a well-crafted musical composition to promote brain health and keep you sharp. 

If you're looking for a more social way to sharpen your wits, please join us for Trivia Night at the Library! Bring a team or make new friends by joining someone else. It's tons of fun, and a great way to put that random knowledge to work in a fun and relaxed environment. 

Feeling impatient for spring to finally arrive? Pick up one of our Calm Your Winter Experience To Go Kits. Learn to meditate and relax through the end of winter with the kit's how-to book on meditation and relaxing music CD. Tired of the gray Michigan skies? The kit also has a coloring book and pencils for you to add a little color to your life. Stay calm--spring is almost here!