Catch the Reading Bug!
by Lisa M. Shaia

Summer is approaching, and lots of libraries in our state will be reading about creepy crawlies! Join the action and get a great, buggy read for your child.

• Babies — Babies will like the peek-aboo aspect of What’s for Dinner? by Ann Garrett and Gene-Michael Higney. From the fly hiding in the frog’s mouth to the hot dog sitting in the baby’s belly, this book is a treat for little ones.

• Toddlers — Toddlers will want to get their hands on the three-dimensional caterpillar in Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood. The caterpillar plays with different creepy crawlies until he goes to sleep — and then surprise! A beautiful butterfly awakens and pops off of the page.

• Twos and Threes — The beautiful mixed media in Scoot! by Cathryn Falwell will delight two and three year olds. Watch frogs leap, birds flutter and chipmunks scurry as six turtles sit as still as stones. The back of the book has different painting techniques you can try with your child on a nice summer day.

• Fours and Fives — Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis saves the day when she ventures outside to play. She saves ants from having to climb a big rock, she jumps into a puddle that could be shark infested and she battles her arch enemy — her big brother — with her sidekick, Bingo.

• Sixes and Sevens — You’re invited to a buggy talent show in Pest Fest by Julia Durango. Your elementary schooler will hoot and holler to see which pest is best in this familiar rhyme scheme. Will it be the singing ladybug, the bright firefly or the boring housefly? Find out which pest reigns supreme!

• Eight and up — If your child has already eaten up The Spiderwick Chronicles or Gregor the Overlander series, you may want to get a non-fiction book for her. The World’s Most Dangerous Bugs by Nick Healy counts down the top 10 most dangerous bugs, complete with photos, fast facts and the number of deaths they cause per year.

• Family — A great family read is Atomic Ace (He’s Just My Dad) by Jeff Weigel. This comic book-style picture book shows a dad who can cook lunch with his fingers, hit a baseball into outer space and fly to work. This loving story of a working family features an evil nemesis who turns dad into a giant bug, a happy ending and even room for a sequel (which is called Atomic Ace and the Robot Rampage)!

• Spanish — A great bilingual book is Guess Who Changes/Adivina Quien Cambia by Sharon Gordon. This story chronicles the life of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly in both English and Spanish text. If you enjoy reading this with your child, there are others in the Guess Who/Adivina Quien series.

The Bristol Public Library Children’s Department offers a variety of programs that are free, open to all and require no registration. The summer program, Catch the Reading Bug, begins on Monday, June 30 and ends on Friday, August 15. Win raffle tickets for reading, spinning the library spinner and participating in scavenger hunts for your chance to win cool prizes, including a Vermont Teddy Bear, WWE merchandise, a Tiger Woods poster, an autographed photo of Geno Auriemma, museum passes and lots more! We even have a special raffle for parents this year, including a spa package from Nauti-Cuts! Storytimes begin Monday, June 30 and end Friday, August 15. All ages can enjoy stories, music, fingerplays, flannel boards and musical instruments. Storytimes include:

• Babies (0-12 months): Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
• Toddlers (12-24 months): Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.
• Twos and Threes: Mondays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
• Fours and Fives: Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and Fridays at 9:30 a.m.
• Sixes and Sevens: Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Fridays at 11:30 a.m.
• Webweavers Club (ages 8-11): Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
• Hungry Hornets Club (ages 8-11): Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.
• Family (all ages): Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
• Spanish Storytime: Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
• Storytime at Scrunchy’s Playhouse at Shop Rite in Bristol: Mondays at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. In addition, the Bristol Public Library has special programs throughout the summer (storytimes are cancelled on these days):
• Magic Library Show: Monday, June 30 at 6:30 p.m.
• The Secret of Bubbles Show: Tuesday, July 1 at 6:30 p.m.
• Lemons into Lemonade Music Show: Friday, July 11 at 10 a.m.
• Bugs, Magic and More: Wednesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m.
• Dr. Bugman: Thursday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m.
• Daisy the Pig: Tuesday, August 12 at 10 a.m.
• The Bat Lady: Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m.
• Big on Bugs: Thursday, August 14 at 10 a.m.

The Bristol Public Library is located at 5 High Street in Bristol. For more information, call the Children’s Department at 860-584-7787, ext. 2021 or visit our website, ci.bristol.ct.us (click on Library, then Children’s).