The research is clear: reading for fun helps young people succeed in school. What sometimes happens during the summer, especially after a gruelling school year like we’ve just been through, is what’s called the “summer slide” where reading skills actually decline and kids are behind when they start school in the fall. The best way to avoid this, and give kids and teens the space they need to be themselves and have fun, is to encourage them to read whatever they want, on whatever topic they want, in whatever format they want. For the very young, reading with an adult, or just browsing pictures and text on their own, is crucial. Picture books, novels, nonfiction books, ebooks, comics, magazines, and blogs all count, and so does listening to audiobooks. 

If you’re not sure where to start, start with the Library! While our branches are not yet open for full service, all you have to do is order books and other materials online for Curbside Pickup. For kids up to age 12, we have the Brampton Brain Game, to encourage them to read, play, explore and learn, and for teens we have the Teen Summer Reading Club. You can register for both of them here.

Once you’ve joined one of our summer clubs, you can enjoy fun challenges and win prizes. We have things like Virtual Book Bingo, Virtual Storytime, a writing workshop, outdoor games and Summer Activity Kits to borrow, Take & Make kits, Virtual Escape Boxes, and more. Plus we have exciting virtual programs with TRCA, Applefun Puppetry, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum in the Alberta Badlands.

I hope you’ll join us this summer, keep our young people reading, and have fun! As always, the Library is proud to provide all of these services and programs to everyone free of charge. We’ve even eliminated overdue fines on all materials through to the end of 2021. It’s how the Library helps make Brampton more equitable and makes learning accessible to all. 

For more information, pick up our Seasonal Delights program guide or view it online under Join In at  bramptonlibrary.ca .