There's plenty of research that indicates that children who don't read during their summer vacations lose reading skills. By sixth grade, they can end up two years behind their book-loving classmates.
To combat that problem — and just for fun — Hennepin County libraries are presenting the third consecutive summer of their popular "Bookawocky" program, featuring hundreds of free literacy-building programs for kids.
Bookawocky, whose name is a whimsical nod to Lewis Carroll's classic nonsense poem "Jabberwocky," will run from June 8 to Aug. 17 at 40 county libraries.
Last year, about 30,000 children, teenagers and adults participated in the program.
This year's calendar will include book clubs, Guthrie Theater acting workshops, music and video production classes, science experiments, puppet shows and more.
For all the merry details, go to www.hclib.org/summerreading.
When the school year rolls around, you'll be glad you did.
PAMELA MILLER
