Kidstock fest embraces summer reading program

School is out and the Central Arkansas Library System is starting summer on a high note.

The theme for this year's Summer Reading Club is "Libraries Rock," and they'll prove it at the club's big kickoff celebration, Kidstock, Saturday at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library.

"It's an all-day family music festival," says Ellen Samples, CALS youth services coordinator. "But it's really just a time for everybody to come and get excited about our summer programs."

The party starts at 10 a.m. when Craig O'Neill will read and "throw out the first book of the summer."

He'll be followed by Tommy Terrific's Wacky Magic Show, "Rockin' Magic," a performance by the Dogtown Ukulele Band and the musical duo LeRon (Lela Bloom and Ron Hughes).

Kids can perform indoors where there will be karaoke and a hands-on area with instruments including maracas and kazoos.

"Because our theme this year for all summer reading is music, the concert, musical aspect of a music festival obviously fits very well," Samples says.

It's not all music. They'll also have outdoor activities such as sidewalk chalk art, bubbles and simple games.

There will be snacks, Samples says, but they may not be the type regular attendees are used to. In years past, for instance, Purple Cow donated ice cream.

"We kind of got away from that because attendance over the last couple of years has been so big that whatever people brought, we'd run out and then it was kind of a situation," she says. "The event itself was too big for ensuring that everybody got ice cream. We will have some snacks available, though."

The Summer Reading Club is open for all ages, with prizes, activities and reading lists for everyone -- from toddlers to adults. Special programming takes place at the various library branches throughout the city starting Monday and continuing through July.

The season wraps up at the end of July. Awards week is July 23-28 and on July 26, club registrants can get free admission to the Arkansas Travelers game. Then there's a closing celebration at the Children's Library on July 28 and a singalong version of The Greatest Showman on July 30 at the Ron Robinson Theater.

But for now, the focus is on the start of summer and an opportunity for families to listen to music, play some games and get ready to spend some quality time with good books.

Samples says, "It's always a really exciting time and a lot of families participate. You'll see some great performances by local musicians and artists."

Weekend on 06/07/2018