“Tails and Tales,” the theme of the New Braunfels Public Library’s 2021 Summer Reading Program, encourages you to not only catch up on your reading this summer, but explore new interests and engage with others in the community.  The library’s Summer Reading Program, which all ages are encouraged to participate in, officially started May 29. To celebrate, Youth Services staff handed out nearly 200 take-home Kickoff Kits for families and teens.

“We are so excited to bring another great lineup of programming to our community this summer,” said Youth Services Manager Jenny Rodriguez. “We’ve brought back fan favorites like Austin Reptiles, Tiny Tails to You, and Sandbank Shadow Theater. We’ve also added shows we hope will become new favorites, like Yasu Theatre, which combines traditional Japanese theatre, music and origami, and storyteller Oba William King, who weaves musical and storytelling influences from West Africa into his program. We will also be giving out a new Take & Make activity each week for preschoolers, elementary kids, tweens, and teens. Our summer program is designed to allow families to participate together, and all ages can earn prizes!”

Anyone interested in participating in the Summer Reading Program can either pick up a gamecard in the library or download and print one from the library’s Summer Reading webpage. The gamecard will help you track your reading and the programs and activities you participate in—you’re encouraged to attend the library’s virtual summer programs, visit local parks, write, do an art project or try a new recipe. 

And when you complete enough activities (or read as a substitute!), you'll earn prizes. Bring your gamecard into the library after completing five activities for your first prize and again after 10 activities for your second prize. If you complete enough activities to fill out the entire gamecard (a blackout), you’ll be eligible for the grand prize drawing (children, teen or adult).

The library’s SRP programs are all virtual this summer. For full program descriptions, times and registration, visit www.nbtexas.org/libraryevents.

Youth Programs

Storyteller Oba William King | June 24

Matt Sandbank's Shadow Factory | July 8

Yasu Theatre | July 15

Tiny Tails to You | July 22

Adult Programs

Making Connections: Butterflies and Native Plants | June 22

Why Does My Cat Do That? | June 29

Dragonfly Craft | July 6

Storytelling 101: Ingredients for Crafting Your Favorite Stories | July 13

Damsels & Dragons, Oh My! Texas Dragonflies! | July 20

Happy Dog! Helpful Enrichment Techniques for your Canine Friend | July 27

The library’s regularly scheduled monthly virtual book clubs for adults will continue over the summer. 

For preschoolers and their families, check out virtual Family Storytime on Mondays and first and third Fridays or virtual Bilingual Storytime on second and fourth Fridays. Each Wednesday morning this summer, Family Storytime will be held at Fischer Park’s Hilltop Pavilion. Registering online will guarantee you and your family/group a table.

Tweens (ages 8-12) can hop on Zoom each Tuesday afternoon for Tween Tuesdays, where they can work on the week’s Take & Make together and then visit with each other. They can also check out the library’s new virtual Video Game Club for tweens and teens on first and third Friday afternoons.

Teens also have the option of virtual Writing Club or Anime & Manga Club Thursday afternoons.

Full descriptions, dates, times and registration for Youth Services programming can be found by visiting newbraunfels.libguides.com/Children/calendar.