Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Books! and Prizes! - by Magdalena Scott


My local library does a summer reading program. When my son was young, he participated each year. What fun it is for the kids to be rewarded at the end of summer. Read a few books, get a few rewards. Reach the big goal and receive a nice bag of goodies.

Sometimes the goodies are super awesome, like a coupon for a free ice cream at the local soda fountain (my favorite). There was usually a free swim night at the local pool too.

This year I decided (thank you, nice library desk lady) to join the adult version of the summer reading program. In order to "win," I only have to read six books and write reviews of each of them. I'm halfway to the goal.

The books don't have to be from the library, so I'm reading some books I've purchased as well as some from the library. Stephen King's On Writing fits both those categories. First, I read the library's copy, and then I decided to buy one to keep. (I think I gave away a first edition when we downsized, but--oh well--now I have the Tenth Anniversary Edition.)

I'm enjoying a nice mixture of fiction (romance, mystery) and nonfiction (writing stuff).

It's cool to get rewarded for reading, but of course the best prize of all is the reading itself. (Though I wouldn't turn down a coupon for ice cream.)

Do you and/or your family participate in a summer reading program? If so, is it through your library, or a bookstore? Is there ice cream involved?

***

Magdalena Scott is a USA Today bestselling author of the Serendipity, Indiana series. Please visit her website, and sign up for her infrequent but somewhat charming newsletter.

7 comments:

  1. I've never participated in a summer reading program, but my granddaughter did in a summer write-a-book group for middle-school students at our library. The library keeps a copy of each of the finished books on its shelves for a year, until the next year's group members complete their books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jean, what a wonderful program for middle school students! Thank you for telling us about it.

      Delete
  2. What a wonderful idea! I'm going to suggest it to our school - thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope your school will be interested, Milou! Maybe you can let us know.

      Delete
  3. I wonder if our library has an adult program. I'll have to check. I'm not so good at writing reviews though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not so good at writing reviews either, Merrillee. I'm going with two or three sentences and making sure to stay away from spoilers. :)

      Delete
  4. I'm careful when I write reviews, also, because of spoilers. And yes, our local library has a summer reading program. :)

    ReplyDelete