AUBURN – The Auburn Public Library Children’s Department opens its newly renovated and expanded building with a summer reading experience for listeners and readers in the Twin Cities.

This year’s theme is “Curl Up with a Good Book.” Kids may keep a log of titles read or listened to, and collect small prizes every week they visit the library between June 19 and July 31 when the program ends.

The program will kick off from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 19, with a concert and dance for kids and their families featuring music by Greg Boardman and Sons (Ethan, percussion; Aidan, guitar), and with Jeff Taylor on bass. Also playing will be young fiddlers, including Matt Lamare, Rebecca Grube, Hannah Rodrigue, Jasmine Chick, Laure Scott and Annamarie Scott. Families are reminded to bring picnic blankets to sit on and their dancing shoes.

The celebration will be held in the library’s new Androscoggin Community Room, although it has space limitations. Interested families are asked to visit the library ahead, or at the door that evening, for free tickets to the party. While having punch and special cookies, kids may register for the 54th annual reading program, or they may sign up later in the Children’s Department.

Readers and listeners of all ages may set their own goals of how many books they hope to read and/or listen to during the six-week program. They are encouraged to read anything they choose, about poetry, sports, animals, adventure…, fiction or nonfiction, even magazines and newspapers…their choice.

Logs of titles read will be kept in a file at the library. At the end of summer children may collect their logs as a reminder of a summer of reading. When participants visit each week, the library will provide small rewards, a different prize each week. At the conclusion of the program kids may choose a gift book to keep.

Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. from June 20 through July 25 preschool story programs will feature special guests, including the McLeod family, Dr. Pat Masonheimer and Sophie Wallace, Becky Lelansky and others.

A summer readers’ group for pre-teens will start at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, to discuss “Al Capone Does My Shirts” by Gennifer Choldenko. All interested in a discussion are welcome. Snacks will be provided. Phone the library for additional information.

Every Thursday, June 22 through July 27, special programs will be offered. Cindy’s Worm Farm on June 22 at 2 p.m. will be led by Cindy Petherbridge, who will tell about the life of the helpful earthworm and help young participants in first grade and older make a composting worm farm to take home. Registration is required.

June 29 at 10 a.m. APL staffers Deb Cleveland and Cindy Petherbridge invite 8-year-old and older children to a pet scrap-booking workshop. Registration is required. Deb and Cindy will lead a messy art workshop July 6 at 11 a.m. Registration and old clothes are required.

July 13 families may bring bag lunches at 11 a.m. for a picnic with Mother Goose, who will tell stories and rhymes. Those attending should bring a picnic blanket; the library will provide cookies and drink. July 20 Bobbie LaChance will bring her seeing-eye-dog, Caddy, to meet and learn about.

Chewonki Foundation will present a program introducing live reptiles on July 27 at 1 p.m. Phone the library to register for the program, which is for children age 6 and older.

For kids 10-years and older the library will offer a three-part workshop on the basics of cartooning led by Jake Paris. Sessions will meet Tuesdays, July 11, 18 and 25, from 10 to 11 a.m. All materials will be provided by the library. Registrants must be able to attend all three sessions. Registration is required.

For more information and to register for programs, visit or telephone the library at a new number: 333-6640, ext. 2004.