WILTON — Participants involved in this year’s summer reading program at the Wilton Free Public Library will “travel” around Maine by reading books and attending programs associated with the eight regions of the state.

The program will open at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, with the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers of Bar Harbor presenting “Everybody Loves Pirates” at the Academy Hill Gym.

Other special Wednesday night programs will include the Chewonki Foundation with their Owls of Maine program, a story time/field trip to the Wilton Blueberry Farm, story time and making fairy houses at Kineowatha Park and caravanning to a Portland Sea Dogs game.

As it focuses on the writing and illustrating talent in Maine, there will also be a visit with Chris Van Dusen, this year’s Lupine Award winner for his picture book “Circus Ship.”

Story times will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and at 6 p.m. Thursdays. Some story times will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Picture books will be read by community leaders and related activities will follow. Some readers include wildlife biologist, Scott Lindsay, partnering with taxidermist, Vance Child, to do a story time on local wildlife; Derek Katzenbach of Mainestone Jewelers, who will read and do a program on local minerals; and Selectman Russell Black, who will read and talk about the process of making honey.

On Fridays at 1 p.m. the library will offer alternating weeks of arts and crafts, related to past and present industries in Maine, and also “Book Bingo.” Bingo participants can win books while learning about those things that make Maine “a great place to live, work and play,” as the Wilton motto says. An open house with book bingo will close the program on Friday, Aug. 6.

Program participants will be encouraged to set reading goals and incentive prizes will be awarded when the goals are met. For more information, contact Sandy Warren at the library at 645-4831 or [email protected].