POLAND – Ricker Memorial Library will kick off its annual children’s summer reading program on Thursday, June 24.

Children can sign up for the Butterfly Garden Summer Reading Program. Staff has created three raised flower beds and soon the children will tend plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They will learn about plants and flowers over the course of the summer and will be actively involved in maintaining the newly established garden area.

A special feature of the garden will be a cement footpath the kids will make that will feature the imprint of their names or a hand- or footprint.

All children are invited to register for prizes based on the number of library books read during the official five-week session and to attend special events at the library. The program is underwritten by the library and the Friends of Ricker Library and is free.

A full schedule will soon be available at the library. In the meantime, the following is a description of what is already planned.

Thursday, June 24, 6 p.m., “The Butterfly Guy.”

Monday, June 28, 10 a.m., “The Young Will Shakespeare” (for children); 6:30 p.m., Shakespeare for the more adult.

Tuesday, June 29, 6:30 p.m., “Fog, Flowers and Fireworks,” a Boston Science Museum Traveling Program.

Tuesday, July 6, 10 a.m., Rob White the Snake Man;

Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., reading groups and craft times.

Every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., family movies on large screen TV in the community room.

Friday, July 30, 11 a.m., end-of-summer program party.

Each child will be provided a reading grid, which will track reading and participation in the summer program. Points will be awarded for each grid space filled and prizes awarded once numbers of points are earned. Grand prizes include T-shirts and a raffle for a large wooden pig. As an extra treat, each child registered for the reading program will be awarded a free pass to the Boothbay Railway Village on Friday, Aug. 20.

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