Gathered around a large turtle-shaped container on the floor, children in Altoona Area Public Library's summer reading program snatched different shapes representing letters of the alphabet from inside the container as Veronica Berry read from a book.
Magnified photographs in the book "The Butterfly Alphabet," by Kjell B. Sandved, showed the children how the beautiful lines and shapes in the insect form all the letters of the alphabet.
"They're beautiful perfect letters," Berry, summer reading activity coordinator and Penn State Altoona elementary-education major, said while holding the book for the children to see.
Bugs were the theme for the summer reading programs in Blair County this year.
That was a good choice for children like 8-year-old Michaleah Young.
"She gets real excited about anything to do with animals," said her mom, Tammy. "She loves nature."
Tammy likes how visual aids and physical activities from the program help her daughter retain information.
Bellwood-Antis Public Library director Hazel Bilka said studies show that keeping up on reading skills during the summer is beneficial.
The Bellwood library recently held a kids' week with a beekeeper and other bug experts making an appearance.
Bilka said 100 kids signed up for the summer reading game.
Martinsburg Community Library director Joyce Paden said the program welcomed 120 kids this summer.
The five-week program is for babies to middle-schoolers, and she said the response to the program is larger than last year.
Berry said summer reading programs offer fun and learning simultaneously.
The programs also act as a reminder, said Melanie Ramsey, youth and children's services director at the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library.
''Library programs are a way to entice people to come in and use the library during the summer,'' Ramsey said. ''Really, we want people to not forget the library is a wonderful resource during the summer.''
Hollidaysburg welcomed 280 participants to the summer program, which allowed children to choose between reading on their own time schedule or joining group sessions with activities.
Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030.
