BUZZWORTHY/Books are the Buzz this Summer

ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- School is out for the summer and the kids are off to camp, swimming at the neighborhood pool, learning to ride a bike, or hitting the beach.  
 
It's summer time in Alexandria, and our community's children are living large and enjoying a much needed break from school.  
 
One of the last things on their minds may be preparing for the upcoming 2010-11 school year, but that is exactly what experts believe our children need to be focusing on.
 
Co-owner of the independent children's book-store Horary for Books on King Street here in Alexandria, Trish Brown explains, "Kids that don't read over the summer come back to school six to eight weeks behind."  
 
Trish and co-owner Ellen Klein also feels strongly that our city's school aged children must keep up with their reading so they won't be at a disadvantage when they return to school in September.
 
To motivate children, parents, and pre-teens into keeping their minds sharp, Horary for Books http://www.hooray4books.com offers weekly Wee Ones story times and French story times as well as specialty workshops - including one on July 10th at 3 pm.  
At this particular workshop Matt Dembicki will teach a special comic book work shop for children ages seven and up.  
 
These are the types of wonderful activities that this two year old store is known for bringing to our community - and at no cost!
 
The Fairfax County Public Library Summer Reading Program encourages children and teens to read for pleasure during summer vacation.   
 
They have established a Summer Reading Program that runs from June 21 – September 4. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/srp/  In addition to the Summer Reading Program FCPL has also worked with the school system to come up with excellent lists of recommended and required summer reading - http://www.fcps.edu/dis/readlist/

At Horary for Books Trish Brown recommends the newest Sandra Boyton book Perfect Pigges as well as Global Babies and American Babies for little ones.  For readers 12 and up books by Jenny Han including The Summer I Turned Pretty and new follow-up book It's Not Summer Without You are two she particularly likes.

It's time to sit back, relax, and dive into a good book.  We hope we'll see you out at the pool or at the beach with not just your towel and sunscreen, but also a book in hand.

BUZZ BUZZ Alexandria readers...