Summer starts soon, and the library's planned summer reading programs are here to heat up your bookshelf.
Programs for children, teens and adults launch May 30 and last until Aug. 11, Callaway County Public Library librarian Sherry McBride said.
"We want to get everyone involved, both kids and adults," she said. "We just want people to enjoy the summer."
People can sign up at dbrl.org/summerreading, the library or a bookmobile stop. More details about events and programs are coming soon.
Children can sign up to participate in reading challenges to win a free book and enter a drawing for other fun prizes.
Children younger than 5 years old must read with their parents 30 times throughout the summer and complete other parent-child activities like drawing. Children age 5-12 must read for 20 hours and do 10 of the activities listed in the summer reading pamphlet.
"For kids, it's so nice because it helps prevent summer reading loss," McBride said.
Summer reading loss describes the phenomenon where children leave school for the summer - and leave reading behind as well. Reading skills may slip over the summer unless children regularly pick up books.
Jerilyn Hahn, children's librarian at CCPL, said the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series continues to be a frequently checked out favorite. Lately, "Dog Man" - a series by "Captain Underpants" creator Dav Pilkey - and Raina Telgemeier's autobiographical graphic novels are on the rise.
"Graphic novels are getting more popular," Hahn added.
There's also a special program for rural readers in grades K-12. Any child attending school in Auxvasse, Hatton, Holts Summit, Kingdom City, Mokane, New Bloomfield or Williamsburg may sign up with "Books by Snail" to receive summer reading books through the mail.
Learn more and sign up at booksbysnail.org or at school.
Teens and adults can also earn a prize and enter a drawing for rewards such as an Amazon Fire Tablet. Teens need to read 20 hours, share three book reviews and do seven activities. Busy adults need only read three books, share three reviews and complete seven activities.
This year's "One Read" choice, set to be announced May 24, is always a good pick.
McBride said that several popular authors have put out books that are bound to be summer hits. James Patterson's "Red Alert," Danielle Steele's "Accidental Heroes" and Mary Higgins Clark's "I've Got My Eyes on You" are already topping bestseller lists, she said.
For those who prefer nonfiction, Michelle McNamara's true-crime book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark," about the Golden State Killer, is a real page-turner.