'Dreams and Magic' at Broadneck Library Tuesday

The textbooks may have closed for the summer but the reading continues for area youth as the county libraries welcome students to the 2012 Summer Reading Club.

This year's theme is Dream Big–Read! for kids in grade 12 and younger.

The annual summer reading program started decades ago, said Laurie Hayes, spokesperson for the Anne Arundel County Public Library system. The participation hovers at about 14,000 each year, she said.

"We are excited and looking forward to hopefully breaking the 15,000 mark this year with kids signing up for program," Hayes said. "We are especially excited about the teen program with an author who will be visiting to confirm or dispel the urban legends on the Monsters of Maryland."

The author, Ed Okonowicz, will be visiting with teens at the North County, Annapolis and West County libraries in July.

The reading program runs for six weeks and there will be prizes for teens and adults who complete activities posted on their Facebook page.

Participants may sign up now at any branch, where they can find suggested reading lists with award-winning books that have been identified as suitable and appropriate for all grade levels.

The library’s club-related programs and activities start June 18 and run through July 28.

For a schedule of events and locations as well as a description of all programs offered by the library this summer, check out Library Happenings! at all library branches, or view the magazine online at www.aacpl.net.

Look on page 18 for details on how you can win four-packs of tickets to see the Orioles play the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 6.

Get up-to-the-minute information on events and other library news by “liking” the library on Facebook.

Here's what's happening at the  this summer:

Babies in Bloom

Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. for babies up to age 2

Summer Reading Club Scavenger Hunt

June 18 through June 23 during branch hours, for all ages

Summer Activities

• Kickoff—Dream Big
  June 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy face-painting, a scavenger hunt, crafting and more (For students in pre-K through eighth grade).

• Dreams and Magic!
  June 26 at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

• ¡Mucha Musica!
  July 5 from 7 to 8 p.m.

• Sign Language Dreams
  July 9 at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

• By the Sea
  July 18 at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

• If Pigs Could Fly
  July 24 at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.