by Mary Camper-Titsingh

Participants in the Roosevelt Island Branch Library's Summer Reading Club were treated very generously by our local merchants last week, when 130 attended a wrap-up celebration in the amphitheater behind 524 Main Street.

Participation was up this year. There were 232 in the reading club, three times as many as last year. Many proud parents and siblings were present as certificates of achievement were awarded at the Read, White and Blue party.

In the reading program, children can read any books they wish, but Librarian Petra Kolokotronis also supplies a list of suggested books. For those interested, copies of that reading list are still available at the library.

This year the total number of books read by children was an impressive 1211, including 46 read by First-Prize-Winner Joel Talbot, who received a Pokemon clock donated by the Video Store. The 41 Young Adult Summer Reading Club participants read a total of 73 books. Roseanna Lopez, who read 12 of those books, won the Young Adult prize, a lovely picture frame donated by the Card and Gift shop. Staff member Jennifer Kanode also had gift books for many other readers. Ten year-old Elizabeth Shingenge, who read 20 books, said she loved the mysteries best. Her little brothers Gino, 6, and Erastus, 5, read ABC&123, and Max and Ruby, respectively.

The celebration began with "Magic with Matt." Fatima Sacko and Michal Gomes, ages 9 and 6, were among Matthew Holtzclaw's assistants. They accomplished many amazing card tricks and stunts like turning two clown noses into 8 noses.

There was much excitement and anticipation as Library Staff members Lateshe Lee and Kariria Martinez called out the names of Summer Reading Club members and handed out the prizes - huge blue Reading Club bags filled with goodies such as crayons, erasers, paintboxes, finger puppets, posters, stickers, and animal inflatables.

A long row of children and adults lined up at the refreshment tables, presided over by Staff member Sabrina Jesram and Friend of the Library Dagmar Allen, to feast on fried chicken chunks from Trellis, slices from the Pizzeria, pork fried rice from the Chinese restaurant, plus potato chips, soft drinks, and Capri Sun fruit punch bought with donations from the Deli and Fish Store. The Library provided three very large sheet cakes, decorated in the theme of read, white and blue that said, "Congratulations to all Participants - Summer 2004."

Several young boys, including Brandon Chen, Jin Young Lee and Savas O., helped Library Staff member Mohinder Jaipaul clean up the amphitheater at the end of the highly successful Summer Reading Club celebration.

The Island Branch Library, at 524 Main Street, is open Monday and Wednesday, 12-8; Thursday, 11-6; Friday, 1-6; Saturday, 10-5. It's closed Tuesday and Sunday.