The Wichita Public Library's 2019 Summer Reading Program, "A Universe of Stories," will begin Tuesday, May 28. This annual program for youth regularly enrolls more than 10,000 kids and teens who commit to reading during the summer months.

Designed to combat the "Summer Slide," where kids and teens experience a learning loss over their summer break from school, the Summer Reading Program keeps young minds active by encouraging a reading goal of 20-minutes each day during the summer. Registrations will continue through Friday, July 19, and the program will end Friday, July 26.

At the beginning of the program, a child is given a calendar log to keep track of reading during the summer. A PDF version is also available on the Library's website. Once 20 minutes of reading per day for 10 days is achieved, the child can bring the calendar to any Wichita Public Library location to redeem a prize. Additional prizes are available after each additional 10-day, or more, reading period.

The Summer Reading Program is designed for three age levels:

• Baby Bookworms is for infants and toddlers ages 2 and under.
• Kids Read is for youth ages 3-entering grade 5.
• Teens Read is for youth entering grades 6-12.

More than 100 events for youth are scheduled to coincide with the Summer Reading Program at Library locations across Wichita. All programs are free, and many of them include special performers, including the Wichita Griots, Exploration Place, Opera Kansas and more.

Several of the benefits of the Summer Reading Program include motivating children to read during the summer months, developing a positive attitude towards reading, books and the library, and getting access to experiences that enhance discovery and creativity.

More information can be found at www.wichitalibrary.org/summerreading.

Wichita Public Library provides collections and services that inform, entertain and enrich the quality of life in Wichita. For more information, please visit www.wichitalibrary.org.