Children “Make a Splash” at the Montville Library Summer Reading Program

Children picked up worksheets outlined with fish as they signed up for Montville Township Public Library's Summer Reading Program, which encourages them to "Make a Splash" with its water theme.

Nina Zarin, assistant children's librarian, said the program has been going on for at least 10 years. Children have to read for an hour every week to participate, marking off their progress by coloring a fish on their worksheet for every 15 minutes of reading.

"It's to keep the kids reading," she said. "It's a very important thing."

According to Zarin, children as young as 3 can participate by being read to, while the oldest participants are usually 12 or 13 years old. The two categories also receive age-oriented prizes, with neon bracelets for the younger kids and coupons from various sponsors, including TCBY, Montville Diner, Joe's Pizzeria and Rita's, for the older set.

So far, 400 children signed up in just the first few days. Last year, a total of 700 signed up, according to Zarin.

Emily Spellman, 7, will be a second grader next fall. This is her second year participating.

"I read Disney Books and Cam Jansen mysteries," she said. "This Sunday, before I was going to a Christening, I was reading Appleville Elementary: The 100th Day. I'm on the seventh chapter."

Spellman said she joined because she enjoys reading so much.

"I want to read like a hundred [books this summer]," she said.

Her mother, Nicole Spellman, said Emily is getting more out of the program this year.

"She wants to make sure she colors those fish in," she said.

Grace Matari, mother of Sofia, 3 and Nina, 1, said it's her first time doing the reading program with Sofia. Matari will be reading to her daughter, but also encourages her to practice.

"I can only read something small," Sofia chimed in.

Matari said she just started coming to the library with her daughters, and they love the story time in addition to the reading program.

"This is something that will influence her to start reading at a younger age," she said. "Because she can color that little fish, it will pursue her to do it more. She's so excited."

Kristin and Amanda Shay, aged 10 and 8, respectively, are originally from California and visiting their grandparents for the summer. They recently started coming to the Montville library and signed up for the program.

Kristin, who enjoys reading the "Boxcar Children," "Rules for Girls" and the "A to Z Mystery Books," said she joined to work on her reading skills.

"I can read more books and my reading can improve," she said. "Our teachers said we have to read every day for 30 minutes or more."

The program, which kicked off on June 19 at 11 a.m. with a show by children's performer Polka Dot, is part of a state-wide library reading program.

The program, along with all over library services, is funded locally, according to Allan Kleiman, Interim Director. Therefore, it was not endangered by previously proposed state budget cuts on library services.

Nonetheless, the June 29 announcement that Governor Chris Christie signed the 2010-2011 budget, restoring the NJ Network funding of $4.3 million for the state library, was certainly welcome news.

"This restoration is clearly the result of the advocacy efforts of the library community," Kleiman said. "And we are thankful for the vocal support of residents across the state."

Kleiman said the Summer Reading Program would have continued regardless of the support level from the State Library.

"Given that the Summer Reading program activities are central to every library in the state and play such an important role in encouraging education over the summer months, I don't expect to see the State Library eliminate their contributions to the program as they work to distribute budget funds," he said.