The sound of tambourine jingles and soft bongo drum-beats rang out from the small, colorful play area of Mosholu Library as an energetic and inquisitive bunch of happy kids sat cross-legged in a circle and gazed intently at Norbert Goldberg, their percussion instructor for the afternoon.

Goldberg, part of the Urban Stages group that promotes different artists in the schools and libraries, was there to demonstrate different percussion instruments as part of a special educational musical workshop to mark the launch on June 6, of the library’s annual summer reading program.

The program aims to encourage kids to continue reading over the summer, while also helping other kids who may be in danger of falling behind.

“The summer slide is when kids either stay at the same reading level or go back a reading level so we really try to encourage them to read more,” said Katie Loucks, the children’s librarian at the Mosholu Library.

Blank game boards have been integrated into the program this year. “They can write in the number of minutes they read each day, and then, at certain points, they can add up all their minutes and can win a prize,” said Loucks.

Prizes range from bookmarks, pencils to even a backpack. Loucks said the recommended reading time is 20 minutes per day, although kids can set their own goals too. When Norwood News asked if they get the weekends off, Louck smiled and said, “It is Monday to Friday, but we do encourage them to read on the weekends too.”

The suggested reading list is linked to the program’s annual theme which, this year, is outer space. Indeed, each library staff member was wearing a navy-blue t-shirt bearing this year’s motto, “Blast off, Summer Reading 2019” alongside an image of a space rocket.

“We actually have another performer here next month who is doing a presentation on alien homes so we’re going to be building different alien homes next month,” said Louck.

Reading levels are divided by grade and while the program caters mainly for kids, teenagers and even adults are also welcome to participate. Many of the suggested book titles are on the space theme. Last year’s theme was music.

“Others are just really popular ones, or new titles by popular authors, so, like, Raina Telgemeire, who wrote, ‘Smile’ and ‘Ghost’.

In the spirit of the science-related theme, and perhaps given the ever-growing climate-change awareness among the world’s youth, the reading list also includes non-fiction books and Louck said the library always aims to include titles that are up-to-date.

Louck said the library is also hoping to get their early literacy learner’s program, which is an after-school program, integrated into the summer program as well.

Despite the general surge in online media, the library’s latest available annual attendance figures were 195,361 as of Fiscal Year 2014. Geidy Flores is one of the library’s regular attendees and was at the workshop with her 9-year-old daughter, Hailey, along with Hailey’s younger sister, 6-year-old Juliette.

“I’ve been waiting for the summer reading program which they usually do at the library. I think it’s great so I usually check the library calendar,” she said. “They like the music. They like to play instruments and dance and listen to music too.”

Norwood News asked Hailey what she learned. “We learned all about the different drums and it was fun when we played them,” she said, smiling. “My favorite part was when he showed us all the instruments and also the one that goes..[makes whistling noise].”

Hailey also said she might take up the drums and that she’s going to come back to the library again. Meanwhile, Juliette said her favorite thing about the event was the drums. “I have one in my house.” she said excitedly.

Summing up the value of the summer learning program, their mom said, “I like to bring them to keep them reading and engaged. They had fun. They like it.”