During May, please visit the children’s Pearl Room to receive a flyer about your summer reading program, “Oceans of Possibilities” and to participate in several activities to kick off this annual event. Get a start on the Summer Reading Challenge by checking out several books. When you register on June 11, you can add the titles to your summer reading log, so be sure to write the titles down and save them at home. Be the first to check out the new summer books.
During June, the in-person programs will be held in the Gracie Lee Community Room and will start at 1:00 and end by 3:00. Programs are on Saturday except for Thursday, June 16. All programs are free and open to the public in all communities. Come by the library to get a flyer or view the one on this site Each program will include a special presentation, STEM and/or creative art activities. We will have book giveaways and raffle drawings and at the end, reading prizes for all who participated in the challenge.
Visit the library throughout the summer, check out books, and when you have read them, write the titles on your reading log. You will receive a sticker for each book you read or for every 50 pages of a chapter book. You will place your stickers on a paper fish. Where do you get the materials to participate in the Reading Challenge? Come to our first program on June 11 at 1:00 and we will give them to you. Thereafter, come to each program, present your reading log to a program volunteer and you will receive stickers for your fish that will be hanging on the net in the Pearl Room.
Saturday, June 11 – Come to our kick-off costume party. If you like you can wear a costume representing a sea animal or a person associated with the sea, like a pirate, a diver, a mermaid, a sea captain, etc. We will have registration for our Summer Reading Challenge, a book giveaway, a raffle, and several STEM and creative art activities. You can be the first to read and check out the new books purchased especially for this program to record on your summer reading log.
Thursday, June 16 – The Albuquerque Aquarium is coming with a presentation and a display called “Rio to Sea” explaining how the Rio Grande is connected to the ocean and what we can do to help ocean wildlife all the way from our desert home. The aquarium educators will bring their animal ambassadors, a salamander, a turtle, an owl, and a snake.
Saturday, June 25, 1-3 PM – Shark Saturday! You have seen them on television, now come see sharks in Placitas! Karen and Wayne Brown of The Ocean Adventure have over 30 years’ experience as marine researchers, divers, educators, and award-winning photographers. They will share a video about their “Mexico Great White Shark Expedition”. The Browns will bring a life-sized model of a shark with them. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions and participate. This program is very interactive, informative, and educational.
Saturday, July 9, 1-3 PM – Special movie presentation appropriate to the theme and age of our patrons. Due to copyright laws, please call the library at 505-867-3355 to find out the title or come visit or email us at childrens@placitaslibrary.com prior to the program. We plan to serve popcorn and beverages.
Saturday, July 16, 1-3 PM – Storyteller, Indiana Bones, will tell legends from the history of New Mexico. He will bring his famous puppet, Draco the Dragon to help him and artifacts for you to see and touch. His program will start at 1:00, but there will be other activities as part of our Placitas Rocks program for families. Come early to learn more about the geology of the area. Bring your favorite rock to show others!
Saturday, July 23, 1-3 PM – A special visit from Explora with family STEM activities for parents and children to do together. Always lots of fun and learning centered on the theme, Ocean of Possibilities.
Saturday, July 30 – An opportunity for children who participated in the reading challenge to select another new book and receive a bag of reading prizes. A member of the children’s committee will be available to assist you from 11-4 PM.
Hope you can join us at the Placitas Library this summer. Masks are appreciated at our library and parents are asked to remain with their child and assist them with the activities.
For a printable of this information, click here.
For questions or to receive an email reminder about our activities, please send your request to: