It was mid-January, and I’m pretty sure there was a dusting of snow on the ground, when my mom texted me with an important question: When does the Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s summer reading program start?

Some families count down the days until summer break or pool openings. But in my family, the library’s summer reading program holds a special place on the calendar. I received at least two more reminders from my mom before the June 9 kickoff, when the program officially got underway. Like I said, it’s kind of a big deal to us. Not for the adults, but for the kids.

This is our third year participating in the library’s summer reading program for kids, which sounds wild because my daughter is only 2 ½ years old. We started her young, knowing the importance of early childhood literacy.

The American Academy of Pediatrics promotes reading with your child from birth, noting that it not only bolsters the relationship they have with their parent or caregiver, but also supports brain development and attachment during those important early years.

So, of course it was a no brainer that we signed Isabella up for the Mt. Lebanon Public Library summer reading program again this year.

The program, which runs through August 4, requires participants to track their reading to collect prizes. You can either log books read online on Beanstack, which we did the first year, or collect a paper tracker and stickers, a definite hit for a toddler. You can track minutes reading (30 minutes equals one point) or books (one book equals one point).

Your kids can also participate in fun activities like attending a library program or creating something to share with others to earn additional points. Once they reach 20 points, they can stop by the library with their completed tracker, for a free book and a bingo card. The last day to claim prizes is August 4. So, if you haven’t joined yet and your kiddos are reading a lot this summer, you still have time to participate.

We started the fun on June 9 by attending the summer reading kickoff party with our besties. There were lots of fun crafts and snacks. But for Izzy, the best part was simply being in the library. She didn’t want to leave. She never does. It’s her happy place.

Within a few days, my mom already had a list of more than 10 books that she and Izzy read together. We continued our family traditions and Izzy and her dad read books before bed. Izzy and her grandad read books about horses. Grandma reads the Bible and books with letters and numbers and auntie reads their favorite book about kindness. Everyone has their own special way to connect with Izzy through reading.

And even though she’s not old enough to read, Izzy still spends hours sitting with a book in her lap, reciting what she remembers from her favorites as she flips through the pages. We attribute her love for reading to all the time we spent in her earliest days reading to her. The library was a big part of that, especially summer reading.

This year, we added another member to the book reading club, as her cousin, Elena, joined the party. Izzy practices “reading” to Elena and every story starts with “Once upon a time.”

We will be going in the next week to claim Izzy’s prize, as she has earned her 20 points. And I’m already thinking ahead to next year’s summer reading program. I can’t wait to see how much Izzy has grown and watch her love for reading continue.