“Spark a reaction” Summer Reading program begins

The U.S. Embassy annual summer reading program for children kicked off with a large turnout of excited and enthusiastic children and parents.  The program is open to children age six to twelve.   The fifth in the series, participation has grown every year!

The theme for this year’s program is “Spark a reaction,” intended to not only stimulate a love for books and encourage a reading culture among children, but also to  inspire them to make a difference in their community. During the three week program, children have the opportunity to read books covering a wide range of topics - from history to science to geography.  They will also engage in other activities to motivate learning, such as storytelling, spelling bee, poetry, book discussion, arts and crafts and, for the first time, implement a community service project.

At the opening ceremony on Monday, August 4, Information Resource Officer of the U.S. Embassy, Dr. Malore Brown, encouraged the children to make reading a habit because "readers are leaders."  She also said that if they keep their reading levels up during the holidays when many children are out of school and are not reading, they will have the advantage of increasing their reading and comprehension skills when school resumes.

The children asked Dr. Brown several interesting questions. One of them wanted to know about the first president of the United States, while another asked how old President Barack Obama was when he first became president. Both the children and their parents were excited about the summer reading program and looked forward to a great adventure in the world of books.