DOWNEY - "One World, Many Stories" is the theme of the Downey City Library's summer reading program for children 12 years and younger.During the program, which begins Monday and ends Aug. 6, children may check out books and read them at home to earn prizes. Free balloons will be given to the first 75 children who register June 27-29 starting at 10 a.m. "This year we encourage kids to discover the world of travel through stories and activities about other lands and cultures," said children's librarian Gina Orello. "When they read during the summer, children are more successful in school and they develop a reading habit to last a lifetime." Special events for children ages 5-12 will be offered on Thursdays at 2 p.m. from July 7 - Aug. 4. Featured performances include Swazzle's Dream Carver Puppet Show (July 7); The Call of the Road Storytelling with Karen Rae Kraut (July 14); Animal Magic with John Abrams (July 21); The Wacky World of Animals with Pacific Animal Productions (July 28); and Songwriting 101 with Kelly Corsino (Aug. 4). Free show passes will be distributed 30 minutes before show time to the first 110 children at each performance. The children's summer reading program is sponsored by the Friends of the Downey City Library and community donations. For more information, call the library at (562) 904-7360, ext. 4.

********** Published: June 23, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 10