The Bookshelf: Color Our World

Published 8:15 am Saturday, May 24, 2025

Summer Reading is underway! This year’s campaign lasts through July 11. Along with the reading challenges for adults, teens and children, each library in Chatsworth, Dalton and Calhoun will host professional performers throughout the summer. For 2025, we invite you to embark on a journey of art and creativity, and our Summer Reading activities and events are designed to inspire and engage readers of all ages through a diverse array of artistic expressions.

Signing up for Summer Reading is a piece of cake. Just download the free Beanstack Tracker app to your phone or visit ngrl.beanstack.org to log the time you read. If you created a Beanstack account in years past simply log in to your existing account. You can also visit your local branch to register in person and get a paper log. Kids must read or be read to for 12 hours; teens and adults must read 16 hours. All who complete the challenge are entered for a chance to win grand prizes like trips to the Tennessee Aquarium, the Chattanooga Zoo and the Sloomoo Institute; deluxe art kits; video game systems; tablets and much more!

Performers this summer include:

• Drawing with illustrator Adam Sanford: Give your kids a unique drawing experience exploring their creativity with this interactive program. All supplies provided.

• Gene Cordova: The Art of Puppetry and Ventriloquism: A ventriloquist and comedian who will make you laugh out loud and help children discover the adventure of reading.

• Storytime with Babatunde: Enjoy a magical journey filled with colorful stories, plus singing, dancing and so much fun.

• Animal Adventures: An interactive, educational and live animal program. Learn how animals use color.

• Magician Brian Robert: Magic Mosaic: Get ready for this fun, interactive show filled with color, surprises and of course a bit of magic.

• Ben Roy’s Science Zone: A science showcase with exciting demos for a taste of all things science.

Along with the free performers, each branch will have additional programming almost every day of the week. There will be lots of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities, a writing workshop for adults and a class on toy photography; Chatsworth will host a touring exhibit that highlights the extraordinary history of the Fox Theatre; Calhoun will offer Pictionary for English Learners and Dalton will have an after-hours slumber party; there will be Cricut crafting classes, a Whodunit mystery event, a Van Gogh online lecture, genealogy classes, a visit from a pilot and NERF wars at each branch. Really, there is far too much to list here, but you can view each library’s calendar of events at ngrl.org/events or stop by your branch for a calendar.

Our Summer Reading initiative is truly designed for all ages, not just children. Participation improves your vocabulary skills, increases your motivation to read and puts you in the running for some really great prizes. Read anything you want — books, ebooks, magazines, newspapers, comics, manga, articles, audiobooks, just read. Our library system serves people of all ages and from varying social, educational, cultural and economic backgrounds.