The Stanislaus County Library invites all ages to join the Summer Reading Challenge, “Dig Deeper: Read, Investigate, Discover!” Children and teens participate by keeping track of each day they spend time reading – a 30-minute challenge for ages up to eight-years-old and an hour challenge for ages eight and older. Adults are asked to write brief reviews of the books they read this summer.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge will be a little different, with virtual programs and performers, and reading logs and book review forms available to download online. It takes place between June 1 and Aug. 1 this year, and participants will be able to collect a prize at the end of the program. Adult participants will be entered into a gift card drawing with each book review they submit.

“What’s most important is that we keep kids interested in reading and learning,” said Michele Machado, children’s librarian and coordinator of the Summer Reading Challenge. “We’ve come up with some fun new aspects we think the kids will enjoy, and we hope it will inspire them to keep reading all summer long.”

Librarians are challenging the community to read this summer with these goals in mind:

If the community reports 10,000 hours read by July 1, a librarian will get a pie-in-the-face.

If the community reports 20,000 hours read by Aug. 1, a librarian will be slimed.

If adult readers submit 200 book reviews by Aug. 1, a librarian will get a pie-in-the-face.

In addition, several performers are lined up to provide some virtual shows to keep kids interested in reading, starting with “Magic Circus,” available now through June 7 on Vimeo. Pint Size Polka, Bostwick’s Reading Circus, Activated Story Theatre, Puppet Art Theatre and Circus of Smiles will follow. Most shows will be available for a week after the original performance time. Platforms for these shows vary, so viewers are encouraged to visit www.stanislauslibrary.org throughout the summer for dates and details. Reading logs and book review forms are also available at the library website.

Follow the Stanislaus County Library on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with library programs and events throughout the year.