School may be over for the year, but kids have plenty of incentives to keep reading over the summer for fun and prizes. Summer reading programs have already started at public libraries in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.

The Castle Rock, Cathlamet, Kalama, Kelso and Longview libraries are all celebrating creativity and the joy of reading with the “Be Creative” program for younger children and “Express Yourself” for teens.

Families and kids who haven’t learned to read yet are also encouraged to attend the free events, some of which are especially for toddlers and babies.

The busiest place will be the lower level of the Longview Public Library, which has been transformed into a children’s activity center for summer.

“We’ll have something new going on in this space every day,” said children’s librarian Jan Hanson. “We’ll have a giant book — kids will be able to crawl inside.”

Volunteers will staff children’s activities during all Longview library hours, which are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays and noon-5 p.m. Saturdays.

(The library is closed Monday, June 22 because of budget furloughs.)

Hanson expects that about 2,000 kids will sign up for summer activities at the Longview library.

Kids get a Creativity Kit and sheet to record how many books they read.

The summer reading program includes several “big events” such as plays, a singalong and hula hoop contest at several libraries. No advance registration is required.

The first big event is productions of “The Artist’s Brush,” a children’s play based on a Dutch folk tale. Performances by Last Leaf Productions of Monroe, Wash., will be on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Kelso library, at 2 p.m. in Longview, and at 4:30 p.m. in Kalama.

More big events are scheduled every week until the “Grand Finale Summer Reading Picnic” from 6-8 p.m July 28, and the library section of the Cowlitz County Kids Parade from 10 a.m. to noon July 29.

“Express Yourself” is for students entering middle or high school in the fall. The kick off event is a “Battle of the Bands” concert from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. It’s open to all teen musicians, with prizes for single performers and groups, vocal and instrumental categories, and the genres of rock, acoustic, and classical.

The location for teen programs will alternate between Longview and Kelso, with all programs on Tuesdays at 6 p.m., except for the Rockin’ Lock-In at Kelso Public Library from 6–8 p.m. on July 24.

LONGVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS

Week 2, June 22–27

• Longview Public Library Koth Gallery theme: Drawing, with crayons, markers, colored pencils, chalk, charcoal, ink/calligraphy.

• Teen event: Battle of the Bands on the lawn outside the Longview library, 6-8 p.m Tuesday, June 23. The competition is open to all Cowlitz County middle and high school musicians, with prizes for “G” rated, “T” rated, acoustic, vocal, classical and rock.

• “Be Creative” Big Event: Wednesday, June 24, in Library auditorium. “The Artist’s Brush,” a play performed by Last Leaf Productions, at 11 a.m. in Kelso, 2 p.m. in Longview and 4:30 p.m. in Kalama.

Week 3, June 29–July 3

• Longview Public Library Koth Gallery theme: Theatre, with puppetry, masks, costumes, kamishibai and mime.

• Event for babies (newborn-18 months), Tuesday, June 30, 10–10:30 a.m.

• Big Event: Movie at Kelso Public Library, Wednesday, July 1, 2 p.m. “Bolt,” PG; 98 minutes; 2008, John Travolta, Miley Cyrus.

• Teens: Movie at Kelso Public Library, Tuesday, June 30, 6 p.m., “High School Musical 3; Senior Year,” 2008, G, 112 minutes.

• Big Event: Summer Movie at LPL, July 1, Wednesday, 2 p.m., “Alice In Wonderland,” G; 75 minutes; 1951 Ed Wynn, Jerry Colonna, Sterling Holloway.

• Kids (3-10 years old): Outside stories and crafts, Thursday, July 2, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Life masks with Rosemary Powelson Bailey and Renee Bailey, and theater stories.

• Toddlers (18 - 36 months): Friday, July 3, 10:30–11 a.m.

Week 4, July 7 - 11

• Koth Gallery project: Sculpting, with play dough, clay, foam sculpture, shaving cream and recycle sculpture.

• Event for babies (newborn - 18 months): Tuesday, July 7, 10–10:30 a.m.

• Teens: Library Café at LPL: Tuesday, July 7, 6- 8 p.m., Library auditorium, with competition in improv, poetry, standup comedy and dramatic reading. Smoothies and slushies served.

• Big Event: Chainsaw Sculpture. Wednesday, July 8, 2 p.m. Robert Tidwell, “Knot just A Bear,” makes a “5 minute Bear” on the lawn.

• Kids (3-10 years old): Outside Stories & Crafts, Thursday, July 9, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Puppet show “Be Creative” with Cindy and Jan

• Toddlers (18-36 months): Friday, July 3, 10:30 – 11 a.m.

Week 5, July 14 - 17

• Koth Gallery project: Music, with melody, harmony, tempo, volume and rhythm.

• Event for babies (newborn - 18 months): Tuesday, July 14, 10 – 10:30 a.m.

• Event for teens: Dance, Dance, Revolution Xbox games at Kelso: Tuesday, July 14, 6- 8 p.m.

• Big Event: Cowlitz County Ukulele Association, listen and play with Ukulele Jim, Wednesday, July 15, 2 p.m.

• Outside stories and crafts for kids (3-10 years old), Thursday, July 16, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Make musical instruments with Dick Uthmann and see his incredible collection.

• Event for toddlers (18-36 months): Friday, July 17, 10:30–11 a.m.

Week 6, July 21 - 25

• Koth Gallery project: Dance, with Powwow Fancy Dancing, ballet, DDR games, jazz dance.

• Event for babies (newborn- 8 months): Tuesday, July 21, 10 – 10:30 a.m.

• Event for teens: Express Your Tech at LPL: Tuesday, July 21, 6- 8 p.m. Includes special FX, podcasts, film making, Avatar design, Web page makeovers. Special guests are filmmaker Michael O’Neill and KLTV Manager Barry Verrill.

• Big Event: Kristy Larson and Evergreen Dance Studio, Wednesday, July 22, 2 p.m. Watch and learn Hula story telling.

• Outside stories and crafts for kids (3-10 years old): Thursday, July 23, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Make parade costumes and float. Multi-media arts stories.

• Event for toddlers (18-36 months): Friday, July 24, 10:30 – 11 a.m.

Week 7, July 27-31

• Koth Gallery project: Collage, with scissors and glue, magazines, tissue paper, corrugated paper, fabric and found objects.

• Grand Finale Costume Picnic, Tuesday, July 28, 6-8 p.m. Includes Fanfare by Deena Martinsen and brass ensemble, music by the teen competition winner (“G” category), a stilt walker, jester, ballerina, human sculpture, sidewalk chalk artist, face painting, dunk the mascots and other activities. Also parade costume/float making (costumes optional).

• Cowlitz County Kids Parade, Wednesday, July 29, 10:30 a.m.–noon. Assemble at Florida and Commerce, march to Cowlitz Fairgrounds. Free kazoos, popsicles and admission to fair.

Week 8, August 3-8

• Koth Gallery project: Poetry, with haiku, zcrostic, limerick, concrete poetry, found poetry, magnetic poetry and pocket poems.

• Gallery reception for teens at LPL: Tuesday, August 4, 6- 8 p.m. With prizes for painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media arts. Art remains on display during August.

Week 9, August 10-15

• Koth Gallery project: Creative writing, with journaling, book reviews, mad libs, altered book, dialog, story boards, bottle messages, blogs and text messages.

KELSO PUBLIC LIBRARY

• Big Events: 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Children’s play, June 24; showing of “Bolt,” June 30; puppet play, July 7; Ukelele Jim, July 14; Hula with Kristy Larson, July 21.

• Stories and Crafts: 10 a.m. Thursdays.

• Library hours 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays. 423-8110.

CASTLE ROCK PUBLIC LIBRARY

• Big Events: Puppet show, 2 p.m. July 7.

• Storytimes: 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

• Library hours noon-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. 274-6961.

KALAMA PUBLIC LIBRARY

• Big Events: Children’s play, 4:30 p.m. June 24; puppet play, 2 p.m July 9; Ukelele Jim, 2 p.m. July 16; Hula with Kristy Larson, 2 p.m. July 23.

• Story programs: 2 p.m. Thursdays.

• Library hours noon-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. 673-4568.

CATHLAMET PUBLIC LIBRARY

• Story times to be announced.

• Library hours 1-4 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, 2-5 Tuesdays, 6-7:30 Wednesdays. 795-3254.