A good book at the beach, a friend for a rainy day, a distraction during a long car ride – anytime is a good time to read.

The Cranston Public Library has had to adjust the way it schedules, designs and implements the Summer Reading Program.

Emily Brown, the library’s coordinator of youth services, explained how the program will work for this year.

“Like last year, Cranston Public Library is offering an online reading tracker and six weeks of activity kits for kids this summer,” she said. “Children can join the ‘Reading in the Wild’ challenge starting June 21 and earn badges and raffle tickets for every hour read.”

This year’s children’s theme is “Reading in the Wild.” For the adult Summer Reading Program, the theme is “The Art and Science of Reading.”

The first “Animal Scout” activity kit will be available on June 28. There will be a form on the library’s website, cranstonlibrary.org, to request a kit for pickup at any Cranston library, and each kit will contain materials for three fun activities related to animals.

“The library is also offering some indoor, outdoor and virtual programs, and free grab-and-go lunches for anyone under 18 on Wednesdays at the Knightsville library. All in-person programs have limited space, so online registration is required,” Brown said.

In most cases, registration opens one week before the program is scheduled to happen, and masks are required at indoor programs.

Brown clarified the COVID-19 guidelines the library will be using this summer. Everyone over age 2 has to wear a mask at indoor programs, but not at outdoor programs. Parents and siblings may come into preschool programs, but not elementary-age programs, although they can stay in the library building. All seating is now open, so they can be in the library, just not the programming space.

“Two very special programs are the virtual author visit for teens on July 15, with Kat Leyh, the author of the graphic novel ‘Snap Dragon,’ and a live owl program at the William Hall Library on July 27,” Brown said.

Although the library is not doing in-person volunteering yet, teens can still earn virtual volunteer hours by writing reviews for the teen blog, along with some other virtual opportunities. Teens can fill out the application on the teen page of the website to receive a welcome email with more information.

To learn more about any of the Summer Reading programs, visit www.cranstonlibrary.org/summer-reading-2021