#62waystodo62days

A sparkler in Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by Jamie Street from Unsplash

 

Complete one READ square by doing one thing to renew your interest in reading or to spice up your reading life.

 

Readers of all ages, interests, and skill levels sometimes have trouble generating enthusiasm to pick up a book. Maybe you are a young reader trying to gain skills, maybe you are a reader who hasn't found a book you truly enjoy yet, or maybe you are normally an avid reader who has lost the ability to concentrate on a story.

 

Regardless of what has caused your reading rut, try a few of these tips to get your reading spark firing again. Even if your reading pace has not flagged, use these tips to bring a fun twist to your reading life.

 

  • Return to a book you love. Familiar stories can be revisited without the same level of energy required to start something new. An old favorite can also bring comfort during a stressful time.

 

  • Explore a different format. Regardless of age or interest, there are picture books and graphic novels available for every level; a visual story might be more engaging. Or dive into an audio book and just embrace the sound of words. 

 

  • Grab a book of poems. Ranging from silly to serious, poems or novels in verse use a more minimalist approach to language that might be appealing.

 

 

 

  • Pair a book with a movie. Read and then watch, and then discuss with a friend or family member. Which did you like better?

 

  • Focus on writing. Try keeping a journal, writing a poem, or writing letters to people you love and miss seeing. Get your brain thinking about words.
Bend in the path through a forest near Marl Lake, Michigan

Gardening comes in many shapes and sizes from the super elaborate outdoor garden maze that takes up acres of land and you can see from a helicopter to the simple succulent in a small pot on your windowsill. No matter what kind of gardener you are (or are striving to be), there are many resources available to help you complete this 62 Days square and Grow Green.

 

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

Photo by Michelle Neuwirth Gray

By The Book!

Male with black hair and glasses holding Magic the Gathering Card infront of his face.

Play your favorite card games from home!  Here are a few of our favorites.

 

Photo by Wayne Low on Unsplash

Free Competitive Card Games

Family of four playing a board game.

Board games are a great way to socialize with others, challenge your problem solving skills, and pass the time. What is your favorite board game to play?

 

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Online Board Games

Dark room with white door that opens to another room lit with red light.

Escape rooms are when a group of players are "locked" in a room. The only way to "escape" is by solving puzzles in a set amount of time. Below are a few resources to help you bring the escape room experience to your home.  

 

Photo by Dima Pechurin on Unsplash

Virtual Escape Rooms

Pokémon ball in hand, Nintendo Switch in background out of focus

Pokémon is still as popular as ever. Below are some ideas on how you can be the very best this summer!

 

Photo by Kamil S on Unsplash

Pokémon Go

Upcycling means taking old things that might be thrown away and turning them into something new! Be a friend to the Earth and get crafty with these upcycling books. 

Upcycling, or creative reuse, means transforming things that would otherwise go to waste into new products, art, and more. If you enjoy getting crafty, consider using materials you already have to create something unique. The books and resources below can help jump start your creativity!

Remember: you can log into Creativebug with your library card for more upcycling projects taught by expert artists and crafters. 

Get creative and transform ordinary paper lunch bags into something collaborative and creative!  A summer memory scrapbook journal made from paper lunch bags is an easy and economical way to keep track of your summer memories. You can collect pictures, stories and other treasures in one place to cherish for many summers to come. This project is for all ages and abilities! Head back to 62 Days of Summer for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Paper Bag Book

Here are the supplies you need to get started on your summer memory book project: 

  • paper lunch bags, craft or gift bags with handles
  • scissors
  • hole punch
  • glue sticks
  • construction paper
  • crayons, glitter pens, markers
  • any kind of colorful ribbon or yarn
  • craft/scrapbooking embellishments

Michaels is one of the largest arts and crafts suppliers in the state. The Ideas That Inspire from the Michaels Design Team are expert crafters who offer DIY tutorials for just about every craft project under the sun. Jo, one of the design team members, created an easy and inspirational how-to video on making a Paper Bag Book.

FeltMagnet is a website created by crafters, quilters, and artists who share their expertise and knowledge for craft enthusiasts looking for high-quality, content-rich crafting inspiration. There's a tutorial for personalizing a Paper Bag Scrapbook. 

Iheartcraftythings is a website created by a busy mom and blogger who writes about arts and crafts projects with her kids. It's bursting with kid-friendly ideas for crafting activities, including for those with sensory and fine motor issues. The how-to page for making a Paper Bag Summer Memory Book For Kids has a supplies list, step-by-step instructions, and photos illustrating every step in the process. 

CreativeBug is a fun and inspirational resource accessible to CPL cardholders. Learn new crafting skills, find projects for every occasion, and watch DIY videos by design experts and artists. A creative craft project is just a click away!

White dice bag with multicolored roleplaying dice falling out.

Role-playing games are games of the imagination and are a great way to escape into another world. Players will go on adventures, solve problems with their teammates, and fight enemies.  What is your favorite role-playing system to play?

 

Photo by Alperen Yazgi on Unsplash

Dungeons & Dragons

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