Award-winning storyteller Diane Edgecomb kicked off the summer reading program at the Huntington Public Library on Wednesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
HUNTINGTON – The Huntington Public Library Summer Reading Program kicked off on Wednesday with a visit from award-winning storyteller Diane Edgecomb.
From the Boston area, Edgecomb said that she had performed in the Chesterfield library earlier in the day before coming to Huntington for her fifth visit to the town.
Her stories ranged from the Native American Tale of Abenaki the giant and how he tried to stop the wind eagle (to disastrous results), to the naughty (cold) snowman that stole children’s mittens, hat and scarf before meeting his end by a fire, to a retelling of the tortoise and the hare, who were racing for a free pass to the library.
Following the stories, children lined up at the check-out desk to sign up for the summer reading program, “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” with librarian Margaret Nareau and assistant librarian Sherri Macleod.
Children sign up for the summer reading program at the Huntington Public Library. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Children and adults who sign up for the program this summer will be eligible for prizes at the end, to be drawn on August 20th. In order to win prizes, children up to age 12 must read at least a total of ten hours, recording every half hour on their reading log. At the completion of their log, they will receive a raffle ticket. For every extra two hours of reading, another raffle ticket will also be awarded. All tickets must be turned in by August 13.
Teens and adults ages 13+ must fill out a book review for every book or two magazines read (or audio book listened to), and turn it in for a raffle ticket.
Prizes include book and art baskets, t-shirt sets, tickets for Magic Wings, Berkshire Museum, Eric Carle Museum and the Big E, and gift certificates to Emma’s Every Day Gourmet and Classic Burger, among others.
Nareau said children and adults may sign up any time before the end date. She said generally the library has as many as 40 children, 10-15 teenagers and 20 adults in the program.
