Summer readers happy to win prizes for reading

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Above, Nathan Bonde was the grand prize winner of the Alvarez RD8 guitar in the Summer Reading Program.

Librarian Sandra Brautigam says Nathan Bonde was the big winner in the Canyon Lake Summer Reading Program, taking home the Alvarez RD8 guitar and accessory package, including gig bag, Snark tuner, strap, stand and assorted picks. Nathan won the guitar in an opportunity drawing of tickets the children earned through reading.

The Martilla family won a collection of prizes with their tickets earned by reading beyond the basic program requirements of 15 minutes per day, five days a week, for four weeks.

The 2015 Canyon Lake Summer Reading Program, which ended August 1, enjoyed 527 participants – an increase of  14.5 percent over 2014. The annual program is designed to encourage children to keep reading during summer break.

The “extra-reading” prizes provide the children incentive to keep reading after program requirements have been met. “Read to the Rhythm” extra-reading prizes included 12 Kalimbas donated by  Mountain Melody; three electronic toy keyboards supplied by the Friends of the Canyon Lake Library; and two guitars, one by an anonymous Canyon Lake resident, and the Alvarez RD8 and accessories supplied through a joint cooperation of Friends of the Library, Toad Studios and Guitar Center.

More than 50 Little Critters, a character from the Mercer Meyer books and mascot of the children’s program, found new homes with area children. These were donated by Kohl’s, along with several other Disney plush characters.

Other prize sponsors from the Canyon Lake area included Kelly’s Diner, South Paw Ceramics, Auto Care USA, Jimmy’s Café and Delfina McKee. Additional donations were received from neighboring business Toad Studios audio recording, Cold Stone Creamery and Chick-fil-A restaurant of Murrieta.

The 2016 Summer Reading program theme will be “Design,” and possibly will include workshops with the 3-D printers soon to be obtained by the Riverside County Library System. Sandra says the Canyon Lake Library is open to suggestions and donations of new items of a “design” nature as incentives for the children in the 2016 Summer Reading Program. The Library also is accepting donations of Legos, new or used, for future program use.

Amanda, Conner and Brianna Martilla show off some of the prizes they won with extra-reading tickets.

Standard programs have returned, such as Spanish Time, Miss Ginny’s Story Time and the Family Movie. Spanish Time meets every first and third Mondays at 3 p.m. Each program stands alone so a child may attend whenever possible, building a vocabulary of words in Spanish. The vocabulary and activities are designed for children grades K-5.

Miss Ginny’s Craft and Story Time will return on Friday, August 28, at 11:30 a.m. The 30 to 40-minute program includes stories, music and a craft.

The Family Movie for August will be “Box Trolls.” The animated movie is rated PG for action, some peril and mild rude humor. The program is free, including the popcorn.

Toddler Story Time will continue through August at its standard time of 11 a.m. on Mondays.

The Canyon Lake Knitters welcome new visitors to their one-hour educational/social program every Wednesday at 11 a.m..

The Library is located at City Hall. Hours are Monday, 10 to 7; Wednesday and Friday, 10 to 6; and Saturday, 10-3. For information, call 951-244-9181.