Calendar

In preparation for the Summer Reading Club, which begins May 31, Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) will have special online family programs for children of all ages each week rather than the regular virtual story-time activities.

Because of the COVID-19 social-distancing recommendations, FBCL is continuing to offer children’s programming virtually, so that families can participate from the comfort and safety of home.

Videos of the family programs will be posted on the online Virtual calendar on FBCL’s website on the scheduled date.

Families of toddlers and preschoolers may pick up to-go activity packets from the library for the month. These packets contain fun craft activities that can be done at home. Call the libraries to request to pick up the packets through the Curbside Pick-Up service, or visit one of the five FBCL buildings that are open to the public.

May 15 – “Yoga + Mindfulness” (pre-recorded video)

This program is presented by Kinetic Vibez, in conjunction with Young Audiences of Houston. Kinetic Vibez is an artistic wellness movement that focuses on introducing a holistically creative lifestyle to youth, ages 7 to 19. By fusing yoga, meditation, and hip-hop, students can overcome stress, depression, and bullying. In this online program, students will learn the basics of the yogic system of meditation, which includes guided stretches, guided breathing practices, and guided sound-based meditation. Students will learn how to use these practices to develop a strong sense of mindfulness, increase mental and physical flexibility, and take control of any depression, anxiety, or stress they may be experiencing.

May 22 – “Fancy Nancy Tea Party” (pre-recorded video)

Watching this program, children can participate at home by dressing in their favorite party clothes while they listen to a “Fancy Nancy” story and enjoy an afternoon tea party. Library staff will demonstrate how to make a fancy wand and crown and offer instructions on how to create “Fancy Nancy” inspired snacks. Children may even pick up some etiquette tips to practice at home! A limited number of craft packets for this activity will be available for pick up at the First Colony Branch Library beginning May 17. Activity sheets may also be downloaded from the online calendar on the FBCL website and printed out at home. This activity is sponsored by the Friends of the First Colony Branch Library.

May 31-August 31– “Tails and Tales” Summer Reading Challenge Registration

FBCL presents special reading challenges during the summer to encourage reading among children from birth and up. Children are invited to read a lot of great books and earn fun prizes for reading.

Participants may register for the Summer Reading Challenge (SRC) online by going to the FBCL website and clicking on the “SRC Sign-Up” image, which will become available on May 31. When the online registration form has been completed, readers will then have their own online page on which to record their books and reading time. Participants may also register and log books/reading time by downloading the free Beanstack Tracker app to their mobile device from the Apple App or Google Play stores. Fort Bend County Libraries and the Summer Reading Challenge will appear as options when the program starts on May 31.

Video links for the SRC programs will be available on FBCL’s online calendar and on the “FBCL Virtual Programs & Educational Resources” Facebook group page in June and July.

All program videos can be viewed by selecting “Virtual Programs” on the “Classes and Events” tab on the Fort Bend County Libraries website – www.fortbend.lib.tx.us – and finding the programs on the dates listed. Youth programming will also be posted on the “FBCL Virtual Programs & Educational Resources” Facebook group page.

For more information, call the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

Fort Bend County Libraries presents special reading challenges during the summer to encourage reading among children from birth and up, as well as teens and adults. “Tails & Tales” is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Online registration for the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge will begin on Monday, May 31, and continue through August 31.

Children from infancy through school-age are invited to read a lot of great books to kick off a great summer! Younger children will enjoy the “Youth Summer Reading Challenge,” while students in grades 6-8 can participate in the “Middle School Summer Challenge.” Teens in high school can participate with adults in the “YA/Adult Summer Reading Challenge.”

In June, virtual activities will be posted each week on the Summer Reading Challenge page on the Fort Bend County Libraries website. Created by the FBCL Youth librarians, videos of activities will be posted at 10:00 am each day, according to the following schedule:

Mondays – Little Bits (infants 1-12 months of age)

Tuesdays – Activity Time Tuesday (grades K-3)

Wednesdays – Family Story Time (all ages)

Thursdays – TRL (Think Read Learn) (grades 4-8)

Fort Bend County Libraries will also post video links on the Summer Reading Challenge page on the “FBCL Virtual Programs & Educational Resources” Facebook group page.

Families of toddlers and preschoolers may pick up to-go activity packets from the library for the month. These packets contain fun craft activities that can be done at home.

There is no charge to join the Summer Reading Challenge, and it is open to everyone, regardless of the county of residence. Participants may pre-register online by going to the FBCL website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us) and clicking on the “SRC Sign-Up” image, which will become available on May 31. When the online registration form has been completed, readers will then have their own online page on which to record their books and reading time.

Participants may also register and log books/reading time by downloading the free Beanstack Tracker app to their mobile device from the Apple App or Google Play stores. Fort Bend County Libraries and the Summer Reading Challenge will appear as options when the program starts on May 31.

Reading rewards can be redeemed beginning Monday, June 7. The last day to pick up awards is August 31. Prizes must be collected from the “primary library of use” that the reader indicated on the registration form.

The Summer Reading Challenge is sponsored by Fort Bend County Libraries, the Friends organizations that support the county library system, and by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality children’s summer-reading program materials for public libraries.

Summer Reading Challenge for Children

Younger children are encouraged to read or listen to as many books as they can and they will earn rewards based on the total number of books they read or have read to them. For the first five books read, the child will receive a bookmark. The rewards continue with a certificate for 10 books, a color-changing cup or ruler for 15 books, and a reading trophy for the first 20 books read. For every 20 books read, the participant’s name will also be written on a picture of a whale or dragon.

Drawings for puppets will take place weekly. The names of readers who complete the goal of reading 20 books or more will be entered into a drawing for gift cards -- donated by the Friends of the Library organizations -- from area stores. One winner from each library location will be selected in a drawing that will take place on September 1.

Middle School Summer Challenge

Area readers in grades 6-8 can participate in the Middle School Summer Challenge by logging online the time they spend reading.

Middle School youth who read for 600 minutes (10 hours) will receive a color-changing cup. Participants who read for 1200 minutes (20 hours) will receive their choice of a reading trophy or a mystery prize.  The names of participants who complete 20 hours of reading will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card -- donated by the Friends of the library -- that will be awarded to a lucky reader at each branch library in a drawing that will take place on September 1.

 YA/Adult Summer Reading Challenge

Adults of all ages, including young adults in high school, may participate in the YA/Adult SRC by logging online the time they spend reading.

All YA and adult readers who complete the goal of reading for 1,000 minutes will earn a sport drawstring backpack, while supplies last. In addition, the names of participants who log at least 1,000 minutes of reading time will be entered into a drawing for a $25-gift card – donated by the Friends of the library -- that will be awarded to one lucky reader at each branch library in a drawing that will take place on August 27.

An ultimate grand prize will be awarded to one lucky YA/adult reader in the library system. Participants in the YA/Adult Summer Reading Challenge who complete the program by logging 1,000 minutes of reading time will be entered into a drawing for a 16 GB Fire HD 8 tablet with a red case, which will be awarded to one winner in the library system on August 27. The last day to pick up awards is August 31.

 For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), or call the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).