Print

Join in on Summer Reading Program fun before it's too late

Dream Big ReadThe Atlantic City Free Public Library encourages children and teenagers to “Dream Big – Read!” as part of the library’s annual Summer Reading Program. You can view and print the entire Summer Reading Program schedule and program info here. (Scroll down to see both pages).
Children and teenagers ages 0-17 are eligible to participate in the program, which will include a variety of fun and educational events. Children nine and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult in order to attend. All programs will be held at the Main Library unless otherwise noted. Space is limited. It’s best to reserve a spot by calling (609) 345-2269, ext. 3050.

The program schedule for June and July is:
  • Summer Reading Program Kickoff Party on Tuesday, June 26, from 2-4 p.m. – Join us for our Summer Reading Program launch party where there will be free books to take home, world folk tales, face painting, animal balloon art, refreshments and special guests. For ages 17 and younger.
  • Storytime for Tots on Wednesdays, June 27, July 11 and 25, at 10:30 a.m. -- This program features stories, rhymes, songs, fingerplays and simple crafts. Ages 2 to 6.
  • Comic Drawing Class on Thursdays, June 28, July 5, 12, 19 and 26, at 3:30 p.m. – Learn how to draw characters or super heroes. Marvel DC Comic Illustrator Joe Del Beato leads the instruction. For ages 7 to 17.
  • Celebrating author Eric Carle: Creative Collages on Friday, June 29, at 1 p.m. – Participants learn about the genius of author/illustrator Eric Carle and create their own Carle-inspired collages. Children under age 9 must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 8 to 12.
  • Dream Big Mosaic Rock on Sunday, July 1, at 2 p.m. – Participants will use an ordinary rock to create an inspirational statement in mosaic, reminding them to dream big, imagine and create. All ages.
  • Paws to Read with Baby Bully on Fridays, July 6 and 20, at 11 a.m. – Read to our pal, therapy dog Baby Bully. Ages 5 to 10.
  • Baby Bounce on Fridays, July 6, 20, and 27, at 2 p.m. – Baby Bounce includes songs, rhymes, stories and movement, plus play time for parent and baby. Ages 0 to 2.
  • LEGO Club on Saturdays, July 7 and 21, at 11 a.m. – Use our LEGOs and your imagination to create something spectacular. Ages 6 to 12.
  • Star Tales Book Club on Saturdays, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, at 3 p.m. – Families read a selection of classical and world myths that explain how ancient people understood and imagined the night sky. Reading time will be followed by crafts, snacks and good talks. Ages 8 to 12.
  • Magical Chad on Sunday, July 8, at 2 p.m. – Enjoy magic, juggling and magic lessons with Magical Chad Juros. Registration is required for the lessons after the magic show. All ages.
  • Shadow Puppets on Tuesday, July 10, at 10:30 a.m. – Participants build miniature shadow puppets and a small puppet stage and perform stories. It’s a Balinese theatre tradition. All supplies provided. Ages 8 to 16.
  • Basic Beading for Teens on Tuesday, July 10, at 1 p.m. – Create your own jewelry. Participants will take home a piece they created in class. Ages 13 to 17.
  • Act Up for Literacy on Wednesday, July 11, at 1 p.m. – Participate in theatre games and performance skits that help reading comprehension. Ages 8 to 16.
  • Choo Choo Charlie on Thursday, July 12, at 10:30 a.m. – Choo Choo Charlie will take you on a magical adventure with a unique blend of train effects, comedy and magic. Ages 5 to 12.
  • Philadelphia Zoo Live Animal Show on Thursday, July 12, at 1 p.m. – Discover the excitement of the zoo at the library! The Philadelphia Zoo will bring an interactive, educational and engaging experience with live nocturnal animals. All ages.
  • Star Lab Traveling Planetarium on Friday, July 13, at 10:30 a.m. (at All Wars Memorial Building, 1510 Adriatic Ave.) Learn how to locate planets, stars and constellations in a giant inflatable planetarium, and how the night skies are named for Greek, Egyptian and Roman myths. Age 5 to 12.
  • Go on a Fossil Dig on Friday, July 13, at 1 p.m.(at All Wars Memorial Building, 1510 Adriatic Ave.) Search for and keep the fossils you find, including shark teeth, coral, sea urchin spines, bones and more. Fossils are up to 20 million years old. Ages 5 to 12.
  • Tween Day in the Teen Lounge on Saturday, July 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids are invited to rock out in the Teen Space. This is your chance to enjoy gaming: Xbox360, PlayStation3, Nintendo Wii. Participants need a library card in good standing. Ages 9 to 12.
  • Duct Tape Flowers on Sunday, July 15, at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, July 31, at 1 p.m. Participants create beautiful flowers using colorful duct tape. Ages 10 to 17
  • Crabgrass Puppet Theatre on Tuesday, July 17, at 10:30 a.m.(at All Wars Memorial Building, 1510 Adriatic Ave.) Award-winning touring puppet theatre presents a side-splitting selection of famous folktales from Africa starring Anansi the Spider, whose appetite always overrules his intellect. All ages.
  • Assemblage Sculptures on Tuesday, July 17, at 1 p.m. – Create your own abstract sculpture on a panel from “found art” wood pieces and other cast-off objects. All materials supplied or bring your own. Ages 13 to 17.
  • Ventriloquist John Pizzi and Andy on Wednesday, July 18, at 10:30 a.m. Enjoy this one-man show of comedy, magic and ventriloquism. All ages.
  • Wetlands Institute: Life in a Salt Marsh on Thursday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. – An interactive program where participants learn about the elements of a salt marsh and create a living model of a salt marsh. Activity includes live animal touch tanks. Ages 8 through adult.
  • World of Reptiles on Thursday, July 19, at 1 p.m. – Learn about and interact with exotic large reptiles from around the world. All ages.
  • Traumatropes on Sunday, July 22, at 2 p.m. – Create your own hand-drawn animation of the constellations by learning how to make “traumatropes” optical illusions. All ages.
  • Sciencetellers: Dragons and Dreams on Tuesday, July 24, at 10:30 a.m. – This fun, high-energy program teaches the science of fire and ice by telling a tale of Dragons and Dreams using experiments. Ages 6 to 12.
  • Teen Self-Defense: Mixed Martial Arts on Tuesday, July 24, at 1 p.m. – Learn the basics of self-defense with mixed martial arts by Sensei Brian “Graveto” Morágne. Ages 13 to 17.
  • Dino Man Space! on Wednesday, July 25 at 1 p.m. (at the All Wars Memorial Building, 1510 Adriatic Ave.) – Dino Man Space uses giant inflatable dinosaurs, meteors, comets, liquid air and a goldfish to take children on a fast-paced exploration of the heavens. Ages 5 to 12.
  • Storytelling with Balloon Animals on Thursday, July 26, at 10:30 a.m. – Cheryl-Anne tells stories while creating colorful balloon animals. Ages 2 to 10.
  • Reading Rocks on Thursday, July 26, at 1 p.m. – Enjoy a combination of magic, comedy, books and more. Ages 5 to 10
  • Sumi Painting on Sunday, July 29, at 2 p.m. – Working with traditional rice paper and ink, participants transfer dreams and thoughts onto paper through symbols in painting. All ages.
  • World Folk Tales with Bridget on Tuesday, July 31, at 10:30 a.m. – Listen to folktales about the night sky and make a craft to take home. Ages 5 to 10.
The program schedule for August is:
  • Storytime for Tots on Wednesdays, Aug. 1 and 8, at 10:30 a.m. – This program features stories, rhymes, songs, fingerplays and simple crafts. Ages 2 to 6.
  • Singable Stories from Around the World on Thursday, Aug. 2, at 10:30 a.m. – Enjoy an interactive concert of singable stories, based on children’s folktales, myths and legends from diverse world cultures. Ages 5 to 12.
  • Journal Spilling on Thursday, Aug. 2, at 1 p.m. – Create a mixed-media journal entry using water color paints and collage techniques. Participants will take home a journal. Ages 13-17.
  • Comic Drawing Class on Thursdays, Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, at 3:30 p.m. – Learn how to draw characters or super heroes. Marvel DC Comic Illustrator Joe Del Beato leads the instruction. For ages 7 to 17.
  • Baby Bounce on Fridays, Aug. 3 and 10, at 2 p.m. – Baby Bounce includes songs, rhymes, stories and movement, plus play time for parent and baby. Ages 0 to 2.
  • LEGO Club on Saturdays, Aug. 4 and 18, at 11 a.m. – Use our LEGOs and your imagination to create something spectacular. Ages 6 to 12.
  • Star Tales Book Club Finale! on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m. – Enjoy a Star Tales party and create your own mythical character to take home. Ages 8 to 12.
  • Photo Vases on Sunday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. – Participants will create and decorate a small, sculptural photo display holder constructed from cull lumber and wire, and decorated with a variety of objects from paper to beads. All ages.
  • Fairy Tale Puppet Theater on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 10:30 a.m. – Enjoy classical fairy tales in a comical context and a magical closing with a live bunny. Ages 3 to 10.
  • Dream Big with Daria: Musical Instruments from Around the World on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 1 p.m. – Travel around the world in song and hear stories about exotic instruments and the cultures where they originated. All ages.
  • Story Mobiles: Creating Artwork with Book Characters on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 10:30 a.m. – Participants will craft small, mixed media artworks based on book characters, then balance them on stick mobile frames for display. Ages 9 to 16.
  • Pop Me Up! Pop-up Art on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 1 p.m. – Pop-up book artist Colette Fu will teach you how to create a pop-up scene of your life with your own photos or magazine images. We will make a house, rainbow and whatever else you can finish in the class. Be amazed how it will all fold closed! Ages 13 to 17.
  • Tween Day in the Teen Lounge on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids are invited to rock out in the Teen Space. This is your chance to enjoy gaming: Xbox360, PlayStation3, Nintendo Wii. Participants need a library card in good standing. Ages 9 to 12.
  • Paper Beads on Sunday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. Learn how to make beautiful, light weight, eco-friendly, recycled paper beads! All ages.
  • Summer Reading Dance Party on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. (at the All Wars Memorial Building, 1510 Adriatic Ave.) – Celebrate your summer of reading in a rockin’ Summer Reading Party with Kids Choice DJ Dave. There will be treats, prizes and certificates. All ages.
  • Bubbles! on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 1 p.m. – Join us for the world’s funniest Bubble Show. Step into an interactive bubble world and be dazzled by masterpieces of bubble artistry. All ages.
  • Teen Origami Class on Thursday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m. – Learn origami tips and techniques with Ira Fine. Ages 13 to 17.
  • Dream Board on Sunday, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m. – With this creative visualization technique, participants use print materials to find inspirational phrases and photos then create and decorate a collage using mosaic and scrapbooking techniques. All materials supplied. All ages.
  • Drapo Dazzle on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. – Inspired by the sequined banners of Haiti, participants will make a banner of their own design using a variety of glittery, sparkly materials and colors. All ages.