The summer months are often the most anticipated months of the year. Especially in our area, with so much to do and see, the summer is a great time to get outside. It is also a wonderful time for students to take time off from school and relax. However, research has shown that indulging in too much relaxation can result in reading loss in students. Fortunately, many public libraries host summer reading programs to encourage students to keep reading during the summer to prevent “the summer slide” or the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year. Reading just 4 to 6 books over the summer has the potential to prevent a decline in reading achievement scores from the spring to the fall, so even small steps are very beneficial. This week I would like to highlight some of the excellent summer reading programs in the area.
The Corpus Christi Public Libraries’ Summer Reading Program is a terrific way to keep kids reading as they enjoy a variety of fun and educational activities. This summer reading program has been an annual tradition for over 50 years. Students are invited to participate in a variety of activities such as family story time, science experiments, summer movies and more! Participants are also encouraged to pick up a Summer Reading Booklet at any CC public library. These booklets are used to keep track of points that are received by attending events and checking out books. Then, at the end of the summer, these points can be redeemed for prizes. You can find a full calendar of activities by visiting Summer Reading Program for ALL ages.
Additionally, Port Aransas also has a great summer reading program for children. The William R. “Bill” Ellis Memorial Library is offering the 2023 Summer Reading program. The summer reading program began last month for children in kindergarten to the fifth grade and will continue throughout July. The theme of this summer’s program is All Together Now. Activities will include story time, crafts, games, and other activities. For more information, contact the library at 361-749-4116.
Along with this, the Aransas County Public Library in Rockport also has summer reading opportunities. For example, they have Summer Story Times on Mondays at 3:00 PM. In addition to this, the library is providing summer reading logs where children who document 25 hours of reading can receive a prize bag which is available until August 11th. To learn more about the activities for summer reading at the Aransas County Public Library please visit their website at Aransas County Public Library Summer Reading 2023.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns, or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Aransas County and Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.
