By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— This year’s summer reading program at the Pelham Public Library, dubbed “On Your Mark, Get Set Read,” is set to start June 7 and will run through July 21, according to the library’s website.

Free ice skating at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena will kick off the children’s program as participants hop on the ice from 1-3 p.m. Registration begins May 31 for children ages birth to rising 6th graders and will continue through July 21.

At registration, participants will receive a “book bingo sheet,” a reading log and a few goodies. Once registered, kids are free to start reading and mark off each book on the bingo sheet.

Kids will win a small prize each time they earn a bingo. Once they complete a full bingo sheet, kids qualify for bigger prizes and a chance to win a bike from Bike Link.

The website says kids may complete as many bingo sheets during the summer as they’d like. Every completed book should be charted in the reading log.

The following programs will be offered each Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. during the reading program:

• June 14 – BE-AT Your Best, a high energy drum show featuring Mark Seymour.
• June 21 – Read Olympics, a show featuring Lew-E and his amazing circus.
• June 28 – Ready, Set, Reptiles, a live animal show presented by Animal Tales.
• July 5 – Bingo for kids 12 and under.
• July 12 – Raptor Trek, a presentation by the 4H Center about birds of prey.
• July 19 – Magic of Reading, a magic show with Russell Davis.

The culminating summer reading program carnival will be held July 21 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and all ages are welcome to attend.

You must be registered in Pelham’s “On Your Mark, Get Set Read” summer reading program to be eligible for all prizes. Bingo sheets may be stamped through Wednesday, July 20.

Drawing for the grand prizes will be Thursday, July 21. Winners will be notified that day and may pick up their prizes at the carnival or by Saturday, Aug. 6.

For more information, visit Pelhamlibrary.com or call 620-6418.