Summer fun with reading

  • Published
  • By SSgt Veronica Pierce
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Its summer time and for most students that means a chance to forget about school work and relax. 

The Air Force libraries host an annual summer reading program for children. Yokota's Summer Reading Program is a self- paced program that encourages children on Air Force installations to read during their summer breaks from June 13 to Aug. 6. This program gives children an alternative to watching television or playing video games. 

"Parents may have difficulty motivating their children to participate in educational activities," said Mark Wylie, Yokota Library director. "This program helps them sharpen their reading skills during the summer break and be prepared for the upcoming school year." 

The program is for children ages 14 and under. Every book read from the library will be recorded on to their individual reading logs. Although this is not a reading contest, children will receive a travel sticker and will be rewarded a small prize for every seven books read. If a child is too young to read, a parent may read to them and enter the book title to the log. 

This year's theme is Book A Trip: Read Around the World. The Yokota Base Library will host arts and craft activities relating to the theme for program participants. Upcoming activities include Chinese Dragon crafts July 2, African and Mexican mask art Aug. 4. 

"I believe the reading program and the activities hosted by the library will teach the children how to develop independent skills," said Tech. Sgt. James Gaymon Jr., from 374th Airlift Wing command post, whose son James III is a participant in the program. 

The summer reading finale party will be held Aug. 6. Reading certificates will be presented and a prize raffle will be held. To participate in finale party, children must be registered in the program and have had to read at least seven books.