Leland and Kevin: Learning together

Leland and Kevin kicked off their mentoring relationship at the Irving Rec Center learning a new skill – playing ping pong.

“We were playing ping pong, pool and some air hockey,” Leland said. “Basically, me and Kevin were getting used to playing ping pong because it was my first time playing.”

Leland was in sixth grade then, and learning something new was a good way to put his mind at ease.

“I was pretty nervous because it was my first ever TeamMate. I was happy and nervous at the same time,” he said.

Now the pairs often meet in the library – another place where eighthgrade student Leland can feed this curious mind.

“He’s into anime,” Kevin said. “That’s not the only thing. If something’s interesting, he will research it and learn more about it. He knows the librarians quite well.”

Leland also has several niche interests and loves to be creative.

He recently helped design a T-shirt for the track team at Irving.

“No one asked me to do it,” Leland said. “I just wanted to do it, because I want to sew prom dresses in the future and wedding dresses and all that.”

Kevin said that Leland’s creativity extends to their pool game too.

“We’re creative. We don’t play pool exactly as it should be played,” the mentor added.

Kevin credits mentoring with getting him out of his retirement bubble. He currently teaches a class at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. His mentoring relationship has also influenced his classroom. He shared with his students how to build vocabulary using a game he first played with Leland.

“It’s called Blurt! You have the definition and you have to come up with the word,” Kevin said. “He likes to play that. I love words and he must love words too, which bodes well for him.”

Leland takes pride in knowing he has also impacted Kevin’s life in just two years. Kevin has been equally influential in his life, including bringing him out of his shell.

“When I started sixth grade, I didn’t want any teachers to talk to me, but when Kevin came, I wanted to talk to everybody after that,” Leland added.

The pair plans to continue their bond as Leland transitions into Southeast High School, which is the same school Kevin graduated from 50 years ago.

A team of learners connected through TeamMates.

Hands-on learning experiences for K-8th grade students

Variety of STEAM-infused topics

Half-day and full-day camps

Before Care and Lunch Care available at select locations

Scholarships available

Older students can volunteer to be Camp Assistants

2023 CAMP WEEKS

June 5–9

June 12–16

June 19–23

June 26–30

July

J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

by J. Dillard

This early reader chapter book focuses on a dynamic character, his quest to recover from a horrible haircut, and the competitive, entrepreneurial spirit that arises within him during his quest. J.D., a spunky and vibrant young boy, is the victim of a bad haircut given by his mom the night before school begins. The author’s compelling storytelling pulls readers into J.D.’s world and the realities of his, and other young African American boys’, needs for haircuts that work with their hair type, look cool, and fit their personalities. Black and white illustrations support the story and will help draw in reluctant readers. If you can’t put this book down and don’t want it to end, don’t worry: this is the first book in a planned series!

Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai

by Debbi Moichiko Florence

Compelling characters make this story instantly relatable. The fact that the main characters are Japanese American provides children who are also of this culture the rare opportunity to see themselves in a book that is engaging and fun to read. While there are lessons about Japanese culture to be learned from this story, it is the fact that it is an amazing story that could happen to children of any culture and not a piece of historical fiction that makes this book so important. Providing Japanese American children with a story they can see themselves in while reading purely for enjoyment is a wonderful opportunity not to be missed. Written by a diverse author and excellent in every way, this book is a must-have for school collections.

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

by Laekan Zea Kemp

Pen (Penelope) Predo has only ever wanted to work in and hopefully someday run her family’s restaurant, Nacho’s Tacos. Her father has other plans, though, and has given managerial duties to her brother while Pen is supposed to be studying nursing at the community college. Meanwhile, Xander Amaro meets Pen on what will be his first, and her last, night working at Nacho’s. Xander is undocumented and has been abandoned by both of his parents - he lives in fear of being discovered and deported. Through a series of encounters, Pen and Xander become close and fall in love. They each come with their own secrets and emotional turmoil that they eventually confess to each other. While they do support each other through their bad times and give of themselves to make the other’s dreams come true, they also become stronger individually as well through reflection and hard work. Themes of found family, parental expectations, first love, and immigration intertwine to make a captivating story celebrating Chicanx culture.

Lincoln City Libraries offers its annual Summer Reading Challenge from Friday, May 26–Monday, July 31 This year's theme is "All Together Now," and we are excited to welcome you to our libraries!

The Summer Reading Challenge is for all ages and is totally FREE! Watch for news about how to sign up and participate in May.

See the Saltdogs!

Be entered for GRAND prizes like a Kindle or gaming system!