The program is designed to motivate children to read for pleasure, to develop their curiosity and to stimulate their imagination. During the launch of the Provincial Summer Reading Program at Cornwall Public Library this afternoon, grade one students from Westwood Primary School had the opportunity to learn more about the club and listen to stories read by MLA Wayne Collins and Mayor Jack Kelly. Janice McEachern from national sponsors TD Financial Group and RCMP Constable Brent Smith were also on hand to encourage the students to take time each day this summer to enjoy a book.

In Prince Edward Island, the Summer Reading Club is open to children of all ages, including those who are young at heart and anyone who likes to read. Each participant is encouraged to read for at least 15 minutes a day. Participants can read in any language and the books do not have to be library books nor on a specific topic. Each week of regular reading earns the reader a special sticker. At the end of the summer, certificates are awarded to those who have been reading on a regular basis. Children who do not read yet can participate by having stories read to them. Families are encouraged to join and read together.

“The goal of the program is to maintain or improve the reading skills of children over the summer,” said Barb Kissick, Children’s Librarian with the Confederation Centre Public Library. “We are very excited about this summer’s club. With a different theme each year, the annual program has been amazingly successful and we are looking forward to great results again this year.”

The theme for the summer of 2006 is Quest for Heroes!, which includes community heroes, family heroes, heroes in myths and legends, and modern heroes. Community libraries throughout the province have developed special programs to accompany the TD Summer Reading Club. Children can pick up their awesome reading kit when they register for the Club at their local library. The reading kit, with illustrations by Martha Newbigging, contains a poster and a bilingual activity booklet which is chock-full of games and includes a log sheet for recording the books as they are read.

The TD Summer Reading Club, which is offered in over 400 Canadian public libraries, is sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group in co-operation with the Toronto Public Library and Library and Archives Canada. The participating regions are: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.