Finley Graber, Ethan Gingerich, Hunter Graber, Emma Gingerich, Savannah Gingerich, Rylie Graber and John Gingerich are excited for the summer reading program to begin. Photo provided by the library.

News Release

MILFORD — This year’s summer reading program theme at Milford Public Library is “All Together Now!” Registration begins May 30 and summer reading begins June 5.

The kickoff is at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, with a pet parade. Come at 1:30 p.m. and get your face painted to match your pet. Each pet will be registered at a table in the library’s parking lot. Some simple questions will be asked about your pet to be read while you are walking around in a circle in front of the judge’s table.

Don’t have a pet? Bring your favorite stuffed animal. All pets must be on a leash or in a crate or cage at all times. Owners are responsible for the actions of their pets. Pets must have current vaccinations and be in good health. No aggressive animals. Courtesy is appreciated. Be prepared to clean up after your pet.

Prizes will be awarded. Children aged preschool through graduating high school seniors are invited to participate. If it’s rainy or stormy, call the library at (574) 658-4312 for an alternate location for the pet parade.

The pet parade is just the beginning of a summer full of fun. Everyone, aged preschool through graduating high school seniors, can participate. Keep track of how many minutes you read and earn some pretty great incentives like, food coupons, books and gift cards.

MPL has a lot of great guest storytellers for family story time at 10:30 a.m. Fridays. Maureen Haab kicks things off with stories about the community Friday, June 9.

Steven’s Puppet show is Friday, June 16, with a marionette show of “The Wizard of Oz.” The Potawatami Zoo will bring some animals.

Jerica Bixler will share stories July 7. The SpoonMan will teach people to play spoons July 14 and Janette Stackhouse will read stories about self-esteem July 21. By staying for the whole family story time, the family will earn a new book to take home and add to their home library.

There are some fun programs planned for all ages. Scott Schaffer will do a program at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 8, on budgies (parakeets). This is a program for anyone interested in learning about raising budgies and having them for pets.

The Puppet Friends Show will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 14. Professor Steve will share his Marvelous Machines Show at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 21. There will be an assembly line activity for all ages, too.

The Milford Public Library will host an escape room for teens at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 12.

The summer reading program ends July 22. On July 21, everyone who has read at least five hours will earn a ticket to the pizza party. At 1 p.m. Mark’s Ark will bring some animal friends to keep everyone entertained.

Free lunches will be available again this summer. The library will have lunches outside for children preschool to age 18 from noon to 12:30 p.m. every day.

These lunches are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and Wawasee Community School Corporation.

There will be two brand new Polywood picnic tables outside the south doors of the library where children can sit and enjoy their lunch. The week of July 3-7 there will be no lunch. Lunches begin June 5 and end July 26.

Craft week will be July 3-8. MPL will be closed July 4. All summer reading program participants can pick up a packet of five crafts to take home and work on that week.

There will be an online element to the program. On Tuesday, June 13, everyone is invited to come to the library and watch “Kindly Ever After-Friendship Adventure.”

“Kindly Ever After — Cooperation Adventure” will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 20. “Kindly Ever After Kindness Adventure” is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 27, and “Kindly Ever After Empathy Adventure” is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 11.

Children’s Book Week Winners

Every day during the week of May 1, names were drawn to win a prize for children’s book week. Ethan and Savannah Gingerich and Mattie and Adley Byler have each won a picture book and a stuffed animal. Other winners were Gwen Bender and Ethan Mager.

May LEGO Challenge

The monthly LEGO Challenge for May is to build a frog. The winner will take home a new LEGO kit. Be sure to enter the challenge by May 24. Children aged preschool through eighth grade are invited to submit a photo of their creation to [email protected]. The library staff will choose a winner from the submissions.