The North Central Regional Library has kicked off its annual summer reading program.

This year’s theme, “Dream Big! Read!” strives to motivate children toward personal achievement and literary exploration with a nonfiction focus. Participants will earn prizes and raffle tickets for their accomplishments, and they’ll build a pride and passion for reading that will last well beyond the duration of the program, organizers say.

“The best part of the ‘Dream Big! Read!’ program is that the kids get to choose what they want to read; they aren’t stressed or limited by their school’s curriculum,” says Rhonnie Craven, who works in the children’s department at the Wenatchee Public Library.

Readers will receive a small prize and a raffle ticket for every two hours he or she reads or is read to. Raffle tickets will be entered in a drawing for six $25 Hastings gift certificates. The drawing will take place at the end of the program.

There will be a series of free events for children and parents throughout the Dream Big! Read! program. The Knights of Veritas, a nonprofit organization from Moses Lake will have a hands-on presentation of medieval weaponry, armor, and combat. Other events will include moon exploration with the Seattle Pacific Science Center, multicultural storytelling with Deb McVay, and puppet shows. Check out the North Central Regional Library website, ncrl.org, for dates and times of events at all area libraries.

“Dream Big! Read!” ends Aug. 31.

Emily Wooldridge: 664-7154

wooldridge@wenatcheeworld.com