One of my favorite moments as a parent was when we were on a long drive last year and Cash started giggling to himself in the backseat while reading a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book. Reading has always been my favorite way to spend free time. In elementary school, my babysitter would kick me off the porch where I was reading to force me to go play. In middle school, I volunteered at the local library and would take out towering stacks of books. And even as an adult, if I am reading a good book, I will walk down the street with my head buried in the book because I don't want to put it down. Cash now does the same. And I love that he is enjoying some of the same books I read as a child.
I started reading to him when he was just a few weeks old, and we still cuddle up in his bed every night for a at least a half hour of reading time. It will break my heart when he doesn't want to do that anymore. It is always one of my favorite times of the day. And he loves it when I'm so tired that I fall asleep while I'm reading and say something silly as I drift off into a dream. Once instead of "bull fighting," I read, "snake fighting." He likes to recount the story and say, "...and then we laughed our heads off." Our reading time is a special bond that we share.
So Cash was very excited to sign up for the San Francisco Public Library's "Read it and Green It!" summer reading program. Children up to age 13 can sign up for the program (there is a separate program for teen-agers), which rewards any kid who has read for 15 minutes a week with a chance at prizes such as tickets to a Giants baseball game, the zoo or the Academy of Sciences in a weekly raffle. Those who read eight hours total during the summer earn a grand prize. They can choose from a variety of rewards, include tickets as well as books and a hand-powered flashlight. Youngsters who hit 16 hours qualify for a raffle of a bicycle, a family pass to the California Academy of Sciences and a gift certificate for a music store.
To sign up, you have to go to a San Francisco library branch. The program started in June and runs through Aug. 8. For more information, go to the website or stop by.
If you don't live in San Francisco, check with your local library. Chances are it offers some sort of summer reading program.
In Marin, go to http://www.marinlibrary.org/
In Alameda County, go to http://www.aclibrary.org/
In Contra Costa County, go to http://ccclib.org/
And in Santa Clara County, go to http://www-lib.co.santa-clara.ca.us/
You can also find reading clubs online, such as the Super Why Right On Read-a-Thon where you can download a chart to keep track of your child's reading progress and then print a reward certificate.