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Read, learn and grow with The Seattle Public Library’s 106th summer of learning

School’s almost out, but reading, learning and growing are in! The Seattle Public Library’s 106th annual Summer of Learning kicks off today with free activities, programs, and challenges designed to keep kids curious, creative and engaged all summer long.

Get started by visiting your closest Library location (www. spl.org/Hours) to pick up a Summer of Learning activity sheet that includes a gameboard for kids to track their reading, learning and growing day by day. Once they’ve filled 15 gameboard spots, they can pick up a small prize from their neighborhood library and their name will go up on the Wall of Fame.

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Kids can pick a suggested activity from the sheet or make up their own. A reading activity might include reading for 20 minutes a day to keep your reading muscles strong, or writing and drawing your own comic book. Suggested learning activities include playing a board or video game, visiting a museum or cultural center, or attending a fun Library program. Growing activities might include sharing a recipe with loved ones or learning about local plants.

The activity sheet also connects kids to free Library resources, such as one-on-one tutoring through tutor.com; language learning using Mango Languages; and animated talking picture books through TumbleBook.

You can also download the Summer of Learning activity sheet at www.spl.org/SummerofLearning in eight languages: Amharic, Chinese, English, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya and Vietnamese.

The Summer of Learning is generously supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation. Free summer programs at the Library

The Library will host a range of Summer of Learning programs including magic shows, music performances, filmmaking workshops, artmaking, dance classes and more. On Thursday, August 7, the Burke Museum is holding a free Summer of Learning party. Join us to explore the Burke Museum and enjoy free activities. In August, many branches will also host end-of-summer parties.

The Library also regularly holds programs such as story times in different languages, board game nights, Play and Learn sessions, drop-in chess and more.

Book Bingo for teens and adults

Teens and adults can join the summer reading fun by playing Summer Book Bingo: Read books in fun categories, fill in

Find all programs listed at www.spl.org/calendar. All Library programs are free and open to the public.

Don’t spend the Fourth with the ﬁre department … unless it’s dropping o treats

Every year, around this time, we get a little extra sparkle in our step — and a whole lot of sparkle in the sky. Independence Day in Seattle means barbecue smoke, backyard playlists, and that one neighbor who still swears they only bought the small fireworks (sure, Dave) —never mind that all fireworks are illegal here, no matter what your cousin in Puyallup says.

Dry grass, dense neighborhoods, and overconfident cousins with questionable bottle rockets can make for a dangerous combination. And no one wants to spend their holiday explaining to a fire crew that it was "just a little Roman candle.". So, before you strike a match this Fourth of July, let’s talk about how to keep your celebration safe, your eyebrows intact, and your fire station friends well-fed and not overwhelmed.

IF YOU’RE IN SEATTLE DON'T

Fireworks are 100% illegal within city limits. Not "just the loud ones." Not "if my cousin’s visiting from out of town." All of them. Yes, even sparklers. Want the dazzle without the danger? Catch a professional show. Seafair’s Summer Fourth at Gas Works Park is the big one, but other neighborhoods put on

solid shows too—and no one has to risk singeing their lawn furniture.

IF YOU ARE WHERE THEY'RE LEGAL … … then at least keep a hose or bucket nearby, point away from homes and trees, soak used fireworks before trashing them, and please—don’t let your 10-year-old light anything. Not even a punk. (You know what a punk is if you grew up in the ‘80s.)

Also, don’t forget the pets. Dogs hate fireworks. Cats act chill but are absolutely judging your life choices. Secure animals indoors, crank up a fan or some music to drown out the noise, and double-check fences and gates beforehand. The Humane Society always sees a spike in lost pets around the Fourth—let’s not add yours to the list.

CHECK SMOKE ALARMS YOURS AND THEIRS

This is the perfect week to test your smoke detectors. While you’re at it, knock on your elderly neighbor’s door and offer to check theirs too. A few minutes could save a life.

WANT TO THANK A FIREFIGHTER?

Fire crews deeply appreciate the

your squares and submit your card by Tuesday, Sept. 6, to be entered in a drawing for prizes. Pick up a card at any location or download a card at www.spl.org/ BookBingo.

Other cool reasons to visit the Library this summer

The Library is a great place to

cool off while browsing books and using the public computers or other resources. Twentytwo of the Library’s 27 locations are air-conditioned, including the Green Lake Branch, which added air conditioning as part