Studies show that students who don’ t read during the summer can experience “summer set-back”, losing ground in learning and returning to school less ready for the next year than when they began their summer break. So, yes there is an educational benefit to exercising your mind as well as your body this summer, but it’s also fun. Not only will the stories contained in the pages of a book take you on a journey to far off places, but a series of programs and special performances happening throughout the summer at your library will add to the journey.

On Wednesday June 17th at 11am Joel Tacey will bring his Circus Creatus Comedy Show to your library for two shows. Amazing tricks, books, music, and art come together at the library during Joel’s exciting new show. Featuring dazzling juggling and a creative whirlwind of new tricks and audience favorites, Joel’s Circus Creatus Comedy Show has something for everyone. Kids and parents alike will have BIG fun at the library at hear positive reading messages throughout the show. Catch Joel’s free show at 11am at Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant, or at 3pm at Faith Johnston Memorial Library in Rosebush.

Then join us at Veterans Memorial Library on Wednesday June 24th at 11am. Using puppetry, music, laughter, poetry, imagination, audience participation, and humor, Kevin Kammeraad will share his love of writing, reading, music, and art with us during his show.

Lori Fithian and Drummunity visit your Veterans Memorial Library at 11am on Wednesday July 8th. Drummunity is a unique, interactive program where everyone participates. Using hand drums, percussion, and simple drum circle games. Lori will bring her collection of instruments from all over the world and create a positive experience that will leave everyone smiling.

You can Be c-READ-active at your library on Wednesday July 15th. The Acting Up Theater Company will perform at 11am at Veterans Memorial Library and at 3pm at Faith Johnston Memorial Library. What if you were paid ten million dollars and all you had to do was paint a picture? That’s what the famous artiste Pate’ Brushe’ has been assigned to do, but unfortunately he has lost all of his creativity, imagination and inspiration so he has spent the last 6 months playing Guitar Hero instead of painting. But today is the day the museum is expecting the painting to be done so Pate’ is then visited by some friends who help him to “BE CREATIVE”. His friends then leave him with a bit of advice and creativity and at the very end each of them is transformed by not only their own imaginations but through the power of BOOKS as well. The show “Be c-READ-ative!” has all of the Acting Up Theatre Company staples that have been with them since their very first production ten years ago. Revolving colorful characters, fast moving action, comedy, pop-culture references, a moral and of course the audience participation that will have everyone in the place yelling: “BE CREATIVE!” With the audience’s help, a few books and some imagination the painting is done, the book is written and the opera is sung and the “Creativity Emergency” is all fixed.

Wednesday July 22nd Baffling Bill the Magician will show us the Magic of Reading. Baffling Bill’s show is an effective educational program that uses magic as a medium to teach the importance of reading. See magical effects used to emphasize the fun and importance of reading in everyday life. Showtime is 11am at Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant.

Each Friday throughout the summer we’ll pop some popcorn and open the doors to the CRDL Cinema. Each movie will start at 2pm at Veterans Memorial Library. Click events for a full schedule of movies and to see why everybody is saying I Love My Library.