KIMBALL -- The Library Reading Program kicks off June 4 with this year’s theme being “Color Our World.” 

The program includes a reading challenge and activities for different age groups throughout June, ending with a pool party on July 2. 

“The whole purpose of summer reading programs is to encourage literacy and give kids something educational but also fun to do throughout the summer,” says Kimball Library Director Amber Sweetland. 

The program is split into four different age groups: Pre-schoolers, K-6th graders, 7-12th graders, and adults. 

Each group will participate in their own reading challenge, which is based on the number of minutes they will read. 

Each participant will track which books they read and how many minutes they read per day through an app called Reader Zone. They can choose whatever and however many books they want to read. 

At the end of the summer, the top two readers in each grade receive a prize. 

Along with the reading challenge are regular activities to keep the kids engaged with each other and active throughout the summer. 

Little Readers Storytime is every Friday at 10:30 a.m. where Librarian Amelia Shada reads 3-4 books to them, followed by an activity for the kids that will focus on art.

The elementary programs are Wednesdays, and the teen programs for 7th-12th graders are held on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. 

Librarian Cheryl Paul says they would like to have more teens involved, so they have some exciting activities for them. 

“We have a Charcuterie Board Art which is huge for teens, and then an art-themed Break-out Box activity which will consist of a variety of locked boxes that you then need to find the clues to open the combinations of the boxes,” Paul said.

You can get a full calendar of the program activities when you sign up at the library. Anyone can sign up anytime during the program, but the director advises signing up before the program starts so that the librarians can plan accordingly.