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Public Library

2023 Summer Reading Program

Find Your Voice Summer Reading Program Banner
 
Discover your voice during the Summer Reading Program! San Diego residents of all ages are encouraged to sign up for this event and use their voices to share their stories, express themselves, and spark change. Complete a combination of 10 books, hours of reading or activities to claim your prizes.  Sign-up begins June 1st and the program will last through August 31st

 

  Summer Reading Program has ended! Thank you for participating, see you next year!

 

Program Details

 
Reading Prizes, Rules & Reading Log
  • Participants can log books, hours, and activities online by clicking here OR by completing a paper log. Print from home or stop by any San Diego Public Library to pick up your reading log starting June 1.
  • Prizes are available for pickup starting June 8 at any of our library locations.
  • Prizes given while supplies last.
  • Download reading log here: PDF iconEnglish | PDF iconSpanish

Finisher prizes:

Children (Ages 0- 5)
  • 1 Book
  • Pass for 2 for The San Diego Natural History Museum (the NAT)
  • Pass for 2 for The San Diego Model Railroad Museum 
  • Pass for 2 for the San Diego Automotive Museum
  • Pass for The San Diego New Children’s Museum
  • Free 5 oz yogurt from Yogurtland 
  • Free kid's meal from Mendocino Farms
  • Free kid's meal from Rubios
Children (Ages 6-11)
  • 1 Book
  • Pass for 2 for The San Diego Natural History Museum (the NAT)
  • Pass for 2 for The San Diego Model Railroad Museum 
  • Pass for 2 for the San Diego Automotive Museum
  • Pass for The San Diego New Children’s Museum
  • Free 5 oz yogurt from Yogurtland 
  • Free kid's meal from Mendocino Farms
  • Free kid's meal from Rubios
Teens (Ages 12-17)
  • 1 Book
  • Pass for 2 for The San Diego Natural History Museum (the NAT)
  • Pass for 2 for The San Diego Model Railroad Museum 
  • Pass for 2 for the San Diego Automotive Museum
  • Free 5 oz yogurt from Yogurtland 
  • Free chips and guacamole from Rubios
Adults (Ages 18+)
  • Free book at participating Friends of the Library Book Sales and Used Bookstores 
  • Pass for 2 for The San Diego Natural History Museum (the NAT)
  • 1 Summer Reading Program Journal 
  • Free chips and guacamole from Rubios

*Please read each pass for additional details.
 

Raffle Drawing Prizes:*

  • Ages 0-5: Storytime Activity Kits
  • Ages 6-11: Ticket Bundles at Belmont Park
  • Ages 12-18+: $50 gift card to AMC Theatres
*Raffle Prizes will be pulled from online reader accounts and paper logs.  Winners will be contacted in late September.

Upcoming Programs

Do Your Homework at the Library Program presents free Summer Camps.

Tent with signs pointing to summer camp classes

We are offering  free virtual and in-person K-8th grade summer camps at select San Diego Public Library locations.  From KinderCamp for preschoolers to Camp Chef for 8th graders your local library may have just the right camp for your child.  Registration opens May 15th and June 1st, more information available here: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/kidsandteens/homework.

Apr 25
10am - 10:30am

Toddler Storytime

Babies/Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary School Age

Apr 29
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Crafting Circle: Beginning Crochet

Teens, Emerging Adults, Adults, Older Adults

May 1
10:30am - 12pm

Stay and Play: Dance Party with The Microphone Doctors

Babies/Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary School Age

May 2
10am - 10:30am

Toddler Storytime

Babies/Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary School Age

May 7
10am - 10:30am

Hullabaloo Music Show

Babies/Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary School Age

Reading Log Activity Descriptions

 
Activities for Ages 0 - 5
  1. Attend a storytime - Most libraries offer weekly early literacy storytimes for children ages 0-5. To find a storytime near you, visit - https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/ 
  2. Attend a Summer Reading event - Attend a Summer Reading Event.  Whether you're interested in crafts, music, or magic we have something fun and free planned for you!  To find a program near you, visit- https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/
  3. Read Together - Read inclusive stories, which represent the diverse cultures, communities, and world we all live in. And sign-up for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program online or pick up a reading log at your local library branch, read 3 books every day to reach a goal of 1000 books in 3 years. 
  4. Tummy Time  - Give your baby tummy time on a mat outdoors. This will allow your baby to discover new perspectives of the world around them. Click here for more tips! 
  5. Find your Animal Voice – Did you know that animals have their voices too?  Sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” As you go through the song, hold up stuffed animals or puppets for children to call out the sound that each animal makes.  Have older children draw a picture of an animal and then act it out (including its voice). 
  6. Make Some Noise – Do you have an extra nut, drink mix, or coffee can with a lid laying around?  Cover the side with a piece of construction paper and have your child decorate (if old enough).  Then use it as a drum using their hand or wooden spoon, then have a parade or dance party at home or outside in a safe place. Dancing is a fun way to express yourself and a form of exercise.  Turn on your favorite type of music and boogie down!   
  7. Mirror Emotions - Give your child a hand-held mirror or stand in front of a large mirror.  Ask them to make different faces. Start with easier emotions to identify, such as sad, happy, and angry. Ask how their faces change as their emotions change. For more ideas for teaching children about emotions visit - https://www.ecmhc.org/ideas/emotions.html  
  8. Play with Puppets -  Use puppets or stuffed animals to create imaginative stories, puppet play encourages creativity/imagination, fine motor skills, self-confidence, and language and social-emotional development. https://empoweredparents.co/playing-with-puppets/ 
  9. Draw a Picture – Encourage your child to draw a picture to express their feelings, a real-life experience, or to create a fantastical made-up story!  After, ask if they would like to share their picture with another family member or friend.  
  10. Make a memory box - Fill a special container with pictures of family and friends, and keepsakes and items that hold special meaning or reflect important milestones or life experiences for your child. Encourage your child to keep adding things into their memory box throughout their childhood, and to open their memory box whenever they want to think about special memories! 

Activities for Ages 6 – Adult
  1. Attend a Summer Reading event - Attend a Summer Reading Event.  Whether you're interested in crafts, music, or magic we have something fun and free planned for you!  To find a program near you, visit -  https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/ 
  2. Kindness Rocks - Spread positivity in your community!  Decorate rocks with encouraging messages to leave around your town for others to find. For ideas and inspiration visit - https://www.thekindnessrocksproject.com/ 
  3. Write a Book Review - Do you have something to say about a book you just finished?  Go ahead and write a book review.  You can send it to a friend or submit it on Beanstack. 
  4. Listen to a Story – Storytelling is a great way to get to know people, and our history, and build empathy.  Ask someone older than you like a grandparent or neighbor to tell you a story from their past.  Start with the three magic words “Tell me about…” and then fill in the blank, such as: 
    • What was your life and community like growing up? 
    • What did do for fun as a child and as a teenager?
    • What is your favorite memory from childhood?
    • What advice would you give your younger self? 
  5. Start a Journal - Journaling is a great way to express one’s feelings and emotions, document significant events in one’s life, relieve stress, problem solve, and increase one’s happiness and gratitude.  If you don’t know where to start, grab some paper to make a list of what you’re grateful for, recall a favorite childhood memory, or write about a good friend about what makes them so special. 
  6. Practice Mindfulness - Mindfulness is the practice of being aware and focusing on the present moment. We learn mindfulness strategies while paying attention to the body, breath, and mind.  Studies show that a consistent mindfulness practice produces changes in brain volume in areas associated with increased focus, memory, and processing and decreased stress and anxiety, making us more attentive.  Here are three mindfulness exercises to get you started: 
    1. Heartbeat Exercise: Run in place for a minute, or if for however long is comfortable for you. Then stop, sit down, put your hands over your heart, close your eyes, and pay attention to your heartbeat and breathing. 
    2. Box Breathing: Sit on the floor. Breathe in for a count of four, hold for a count of four, breathe out for a count of four, and hold for a count of four. Repeat for several breaths. Note: This may make some people dizzy, so make sure to stay seated for a few minutes after completing this exercise. 
    3. Muscle Relaxing: Sit with your legs out in front of you. Close your eyes. Gently tense the muscles in your feet and slowly release them, tense your calves, and slowly release, tense your thigh muscles, and slowly release, and continue up your body to your head. 
  7. Share Your Voice – There are so many ways to share your voice. Write your own story and read it to someone.  Pick a song that means something to you and listen to it with someone you care about.   
  8. Recommend a Book – Is there a book that has special meaning to you?  Pass it along to a friend or show them how to check it out from the library.  Then tell them why the book has meaning to you. 
  9. Dance Party – Dancing is a fun way to express yourself and a form of exercise.  Turn on your favorite type of music and boogie down! 
  10. Make an Encouragement Jar - Daily encouragements help kids and adults learn to support themselves when the going gets tough, as well as start the day off right! Pull a card from the jar every morning or whenever a boost is needed.  Check out https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/encouragement-jar for directions. 

Actividades para niños de 0 a 5 años 

  1. Asiste al período de cuentos - La mayoría de las bibliotecas ofrecen horas de cuentos semanales de alfabetización temprana para niños de 0 a 5 años. Para encontrar una hora de cuentos cercana, visita - https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/
  2. Asiste a un Evento de Lectura de Verano - Asiste a un Evento de Lectura de Verano.  Ya sea que te interesen las manualidades, la música o la magia, ¡tenemos algo divertido y gratuito planeado para tí!  Para encontrar un programa cercano, visita- https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/
  3. Leamos Juntos- Lee historias inclusivas, que representan las diversas culturas, comunidades y el mundo en el que todos vivimos. E inscríbete en el programa 1000 Libros Antes del Kinder en línea, o recoge un registro de lectura en la sucursal de su biblioteca local, lee 3 libros todos los días para alcanzar la meta de 1000 libros en 3 años. 
  4. Tiempo de barriguita - Dale a tu bebé tiempo boca abajo en una colchoneta al aire libre. Esto le permitirá al bebé descubrir nuevas perspectivas del mundo que lo rodea. ¡Haz clic aquí para más consejos! 
  5. Encuentra tu Voz Animal - ¿Sabías que los animales también tienen sus voces?  Canta "Old MacDonald Had a Farm". A medida que avanzas en la canción, sostén animales de peluche o títeres para que los niños digan el sonido que hace cada animal.  Pide a los niños mayores que hagan un dibujo de un animal y luego lo imiten (incluyendo su voz). 
  6. Haz Algo de Ruido - ¿tienes una nuez extra, una bebida mezclada o una lata de café con una tapa por ahí?  Cubre el costado con un trozo de papel de construcción y pídale a tu hijo que lo decore (si tiene la edad suficiente). Luego utilízalo como un tambor usando tu mano o una cuchara de madera, luego haz un desfile o un baile en casa o afuera en un lugar seguro. Bailar es una manera divertida de expresarse y una forma de ejercicio.  ¡Pon tu tipo de música favorita y baila!   
  7. Emociones de espejo - Dále a tu hijo un espejo de mano o párate frente a un espejo grande.  Pídeles que hagan diferentes caras. Comienza con emociones más fáciles de identificar, como tristeza, felicidad y enojo. Pregúntales cómo cambian sus rostros a medida que cambian sus emociones. Para más ideas para enseñar a los niños sobre las emociones, visita - https://www.ecmhc.org/ideas/emotions.html 
  8. Juega con Títeres - Usa títeres o animales de peluche para crear historias imaginarias, el juego de títeres fomenta la creatividad/imaginación, las habilidades motoras finas, la confianza en sí mismo y el lenguaje y el desarrollo socioemocional.  https://empoweredparents.co/playing-with-puppets/  
  9. Haz un Dibujo- ¡Anima a tu hijo a hacer un dibujo para expresar sus sentimientos, una experiencia de la vida real o para crear una historia fantástica inventada!  Después, pregúntales si les gustaría compartir su foto con otro familiar o amigo.  
  10. Haz una caja de recuerdos- Llena un recipiente especial con fotos de familiares y amigos, recuerdos y artículos que tengan un significado especial o reflejen momentos importantes o experiencias de vida para tu hijo. Anima a tu hijo a seguir agregando cosas en su caja de recuerdos a lo largo de su infancia y a abrir su caja de recuerdos cada vez que quiera revivir momentos especiales. 

Actividades para niños de 6 años – Adulto 

  1. Asiste a un Evento de Lectura de Verano - Asiste a un Evento de Lectura de Verano.  Ya sea que te interesen las manualidades, la música o la magia, ¡tenemos algo divertido y gratuito planeado para ti!  Para encontrar un programa cerca de tí, visita -  https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/ 
  2. La Bondad es buena! - ¡Difunde positividad en tu comunidad!  Decora rocas con mensajes alentadores para dejar en tu ciudad para que otros las encuentren. Para obtener ideas e inspiración, visita -  https://www.thekindnessrocksproject.com/ 
  3. Escribe una reseña de un libro - ¿Tienes algo que decir sobre un libro que acabas de terminar?  Continúa y escribe una reseña de un libro.  Puedes enviarlo a un amigo o enviarlo en Beanstack. 
  4. Escucha una historia - Contar historias es una excelente manera de conocer a las personas y nuestra historia, y generar empatía.  Pídele a alguien mayor que tú, como un abuelo o vecino, que te cuente una historia de su pasado.  Comienza con las tres palabras mágicas "Hábleme de..." y luego complete el espacio en blanco, como: 
    • ¿Cómo fue tu vida y tu comunidad mientras crecías? 
    • ¿Qué hiciste para divertirte de niño y de adolescente?
    • ¿Cuál es tu recuerdo favorito de la infancia?
    •  ¿Qué consejo le darías a tu propio yo más joven? 
  5. Comienza un Diario - Escribir un diario es una excelente manera de expresar los sentimientos y emociones, documentar eventos importantes en la vida, aliviar el estrés, resolver problemas y aumentar la felicidad y la gratitud.  Si no sabes por dónde empezar, toma un papel para hacer una lista de las cosas por las que estás agradecido, piensa en un recuerdo favorito de la infancia o escribe sobre un buen amigo y qué lo hace tan especial. 
  6. Practica la Atención Plena - La atención plena es la práctica de ser consciente y concentrarse en el momento presente. Aprendemos estrategias de atención plena mientras prestamos atención al cuerpo, la respiración y la mente.  Los estudios demuestran que una práctica constante de atención plena produce cambios en el volumen del cerebro en áreas asociadas con un mayor enfoque, memoria y procesamiento y disminución del estrés y la ansiedad, lo que nos hace más atentos.  Aquí hay tres ejercicios de atención plena para comenzar: 
    1. Ejercicio de Latidos Cardíacos: Corre en el lugar durante un minuto, o por el tiempo que te resulte cómodo. Luego detente, siéntate, pon tus manos sobre tu corazón, cierra los ojos y presta atención a los latidos de tu corazón y tu respiración. 
    2. Caja de Respiración: Siéntate en el piso. Inhala mientras cuentas hasta cuatro, sostén el aire y cuenta hasta cuatro, exhala mientras cuentas hasta cuatro y sostenlo mientras cuentas hasta cuatro. Repítelo durante varias respiraciones. Nota: Esto puede hacer que algunas personas se mareen, así que asegúrate de permanecer sentado durante unos minutos después de completar este ejercicio. 
    3. Relajación Muscular: Siéntate con las piernas estiradas frente a ti. Cierra tus ojos. Tensa suavemente los músculos de los pies y suéltalos lentamente, tensa las pantorrillas y suéltalos lentamente, tensa los músculos de los muslos y suéltalos lentamente y continúa subiendo por tu cuerpo hasta la cabeza. 
  7. Comparte tu voz - hay muchas maneras de compartir tu voz. Escribe tu propia historia y léela a alguien.  Elige una canción que signifique algo para ti y escúchala con alguien que te importe.   

  8. Recomienda un libro - ¿Hay algún libro que tenga un significado especial para ti?  Pásalo a un amigo o muéstrale cómo sacarlo de la biblioteca.  Luego diles por qué el libro tiene significado para ti. 

  9. Fiesta de Baile - Bailar es una forma divertida de expresarse y una forma de ejercicio.  ¡Pon tu tipo de música favorita y baila! 

  10. Haz un Jarra de Estímulo - Los estímulos diarios ayudan a niños y adultos a aprender a mantenerse a sí mismos cuando las cosas se ponen difíciles, ¡así como a comenzar bien el día! Saca una tarjeta del frasco todas las mañanas o cada vez que necesites un empuje.  Consulta  https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/encouragement-jar para obtener instrucciones.

Reading Recommendations

 


Reading Resources

 
Looking for books to read at home? Visit the eLibrary to view all of our options! Our CloudLibrary app, which can be downloaded to your phone or tablet, is a great place to start! Have your San Diego Public Library card handy, which begins with the digits 01336. Don't have a library card? Apply for a card here and use your temporary card number and password to login and access eLibrary.
 
And remember, all reading counts! For example, listening to audiobooks and watching story times online are great ways to complete your reading log.
 
Bookflix logo
A literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning.
 
cloudLibrary logo
cloudLibrary allows you to borrow and read a wide array of eBooks from the San Diego Public Library for free.
SimplyE app: Video Tutorial
SimplyE available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
 
Comic Plus logo
You have unlimited, simultaneous access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, annd manga through Compics Plus- including popular titles like Avatar: the Last Airbender; Bone; The Boys; B.P.R.D; Disney Decendants; Locke & Key; Peanuts; Stranger Things; They Called Us Enemy.
Video Tutorial: Navigating Comics Plus
 
NoveList logo
Find fiction titles for classroom use or reading including picture books; children's chapter books; and young adult titles.
 
NoveList logo
Guide to suggested reading for all ages with reviews and other features.
 

Presented by:

 
 
Friends of the San Diego Public Library logo
Library Foundation SD Logo
 
For other questions or concerns, call 619-236-5800 or email SummerReadingProgram@sandiego.gov