Bee Cave Public Library announced recently that more than 730 children went “Wild About Reading” during its Fourth Annual Summer Reading Program.

More than 300 children reached their reading goals and turned in logs totaling a whopping 298,000 minutes. Those children who completed the program received a variety of prizes made possible in part by sponsors including H-E-B, Learning Express Toys, Eyecare Essentials, Broadway Bank, and Aqua-Tots Swim Schools.
“Each child who read at least 360 minutes received a drawstring book bag featuring the Wild about Reading logo, and had their picture displayed in the library in a personalized poster,” said Library Director Barbara Hathaway. “This is our favorite part of the program, which we’ve been doing since we started in 2006. It’s fun for us to see the children’s posters go up throughout the summer, and the kids love to come to the library and find themselves and their friends up on the walls. It’s an inexpensive but fun way for us to honor their achievements.”
Like public libraries around the nation, Bee Cave offered a wide variety of activities and events designed to encourage children to read for fun during the long break from school. In keeping with this year’s “wild” theme, the summer kicked off with two shows by Lucas Miller, the Singing Zoologist, held in the community room above the library. In July, the Central Texas Master Naturalists offered a free program at the pond across from the Bee Cave Police Department that featured everything from frog calls to observing a heron’s nest through a telescope. Volunteer naturalists even waded into the pond to capture local wildlife so the children could see what lives in their own backyards.
Attracting over 100 eager participants was an “Afghan Craft Day,” loosely based on the 2009 Lake Travis Reads selection Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson. The book read throughout the community last spring describes the author’s experiences building schools in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the craft day was a follow-up for the children. At the event, children were able to view displays of clothing and toys from Central Asia, and make a camel to take home and a “wish flag” to send to a child in the region. They also helped complete a Texas-themed quilt to send to a school in Afghanistan, under the direction of library staff members Rita Bauer and Laurie Works.
Wild About Reading celebrated its grand finale with an awards ceremony hosted by Bee Cave Mayor Caroline Murphy, who congratulated the children and encouraged them to keep reading and learning. Mayor Pro Tem Jack McCool and Council members Chad Bockius, Bob Dorsett and Mike Murphy also were on hand to greet the families and friends of the award-winning readers. Nearly 400 people enjoyed a rousing concert after the ceremony by beloved children’s musician Joe McDermott.
“Planning for our Summer Reading Program begins in January,” said Hathaway, “and we welcome the support of the business community in making these fun programs and incentives available to encourage the children to read.”
Book bags and other prizes may be picked up the rest of this month at the library for those who weren’t able to attend the ceremony. For more information about the library, visit its web site at http://pl.beecavetexas.gov or call 767-6620.