The space-themed summer reading program at Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library, 109 South State Street in Hampshire, took off on June 1, and completed its mission on Saturday, with a free party for children and their families.
The Discovery Center Museum in Rockford brought their outer space exhibit to the library.
“This is one of the summer parties we look forward to every year,” said Dawn Zauner, the library’s children’s services manager.
Children who signed up for the program and read for 10 days were able to pick out a toy from the library’s treasure box.
By logging in 25 days of reading, children earned a book and coupon pack.
Children who read for 45 or more days were given a grand prize raffle ticket and a yard sign that proclaims: “An Ella Johnson Memorial Library Super Star Reader Lives Here.”
The different “space stations” at the library on Saturday included: Know Your Solar System, Alien Art, Moon Wheels, Star Fortune Tellers, Constellation Station, Spacecraft Construction and Moon Sand.
Samuel and Elijah Shaw of Elgin built space ships out of LEGO building blocks.
Lucas Monson, 7, of Hampshire created a picture of the constellation known as Pegasus, the Winged Horse, by pasting colorful stars on a sheet of paper as black as the night sky.
With help from their parents, Bob and Mercedes Gohde of Pingree Grove, siblings Cash, Hendrix and Vaughan lined up the nine planets of the solar system and identified them by name.
Families were treated to scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Illinois State Representative Bob Pritchard handed out ice cream sundaes and read to the children.
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“State Representative Steve Andersson and I are glad to be a part of the summer reading programs,” Pritchard said. “It’s good to encourage reading over the summer and get the children ready to go back to school.”
While the summer reading program is over, area residents can look forward to other upcoming events such as a new series of live acoustic concerts which will be held once a month at the library. No registration is needed for the free musical events.
At 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 18, the program will kick off with Chicago-based guitarist Goran Ivanovic and his trio ensemble. They will perform music that incorporates jazz along with traditional Balkan, flamenco and classical styles, according to library officials.
The library will raffle two CDs to the first 35 people who come through the door. Coffee and snacks will be available for purchase from the library support group Ella’s Friends.
For information, contact the library at 847-683-4490; www.ellajohnsonlibrary.org.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.