The Cape Girardeau Public Library plans to spend the summer getting area kids more involved in reading through Summer Reading Club activities. The theme this year is "Leap Into Books."

The Reading Club is the primary part of the summer kids' activities, but there are other events which are included in the club.

These activities include Book Buddies, storytime, and films, according to Tasha Saecker, children's Librarian.

"We usually get a very good turnout for everything we do," said Saecker. "If anything, we have a problem with not being able to serve enough of them. We normally have about 1,000 enrolled in the programs."

Reading Club is a chance for kids to earn prizes by reading books.

"Summer Reading Club is done by contract," Saecker said, "The kids choose a number of books they think they'll read over the summer. The fewest number we allow them to choose is five, but beyond that, they decide themselves. They just choose their own number and they go at it."

Brenda Renner, who is helping Saecker organize the programs, said, "Most are reasonable, some are outlandish. If they sign up for an outlandish number, we try to convince them to pick a more reasonable number."

Registration for Reading Club starts today and the program will run through Aug. 5.

"When they complete their contracts," Renner said, "they receive a certificate signed by Gov. Ashcroft, a free paperback book, a gift certificate from McDonald's for a free milkshake, and have their names entered in a drawing for one of two bicycles."

The VFW Post 3838 and its Auxiliary usually donate two bicycles for reading club drawings.

Saecker said, "There will be a party Aug. 6 for the kids who complete their contracts. We will have the drawings for the bicycles at the party at the Arena Building."

Another activity that is being offered in conjunction with the Summer Reading Club is a visit with animals from the 5-H Ranch.

Next Monday, June 8, children will have a chance to see a llama, a miniature horse, a sheep, a donkey and a baby camel. The animals will be on the library parking lot from 1 to 3 p.m.

Fantastic Fridays will feature a different program each Friday at 1 p.m. Some of the programs that are planned include pet care with a local veterinarian; furs from the Conservation Department; fire safety and other programs, according to Saecker.

Storytime is the only one of the programs offered in the summer that is also offered during the school year, according to Saecker.

Storytime will be offered in two segments: one for daycare children only and one for all other kids. Daycare storytime is offered Mondays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Registration is limited to 50 children per session.

Registration for regular storytime is limited to 25 per session and is offered Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Storytimes are open to children ages 3-5.

"Many mothers stay with their kids," Saecker said, "especially for things like storytime. We don't consider it a babysitting service and I don't think the mothers do either."

Book Buddies is another program under the Reading Club, according to Saecker. "That's our new one," she said. "The program is for children in grades 1-3. I'm going to be reading out loud to them and they'll be doing art work while I read. They will become the illustrator for the chapter books I will read."

Book Buddies will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, and participants choose one of the days. Tuesday meetings are from 2 to 2:30 p.m. and Thursday meetings are from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Deadline for registration is June 15 and the program will start Tuesday, June 16.

"I'll be starting with easier books and working up to books that are harder to listen to," Saecker said. She will be reading both books and poetry to the children.

There will be activities offered for older children too, according to Saecker. Games will be available for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. No registration is necessary for game time, which is held Mondays from 1-3 p.m. in the Hirsch Community Room.

The Public Library will also show children's films every Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m., starting June 10. Some of the films that will be shown include "Beauty and the Beast," "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" and "Swiss Family Robinson."

"Any ages are more than welcome to be here," Saecker said. "The summer programs are for kids from age 2 to kids in the sixth and seventh grades. We try to get older students involved."

Saecker said she and Renner are the main planners and workers for the summer children's activities. "We do have older children come in and volunteer," she said, "but Brenda and I are the two people who mainly do this. Other people in the library will come help us if we need it.

Saecker has visited most of the schools in Cape Girardeau to tell the kids there about the programs offered at the library this summer.

"I just want them to understand that everything is completely free," she said.