The Children's Room at Canton Public Library is a-buzz with excitement as it prepares for "Catch the Reading Bug!" On Monday, June 2, the fun begins as the summer reading program gets underway and readers of all ages are invited to register. Youngsters, who in summers past have needed little or no encouragement to fill their summer with books, will be reading for fun and reading for prizes.

Readers can expect to be greeting with swarming, creeping, fluttering, and crawling creatures when they enter the pesticide-free zone to register, choose their books, and record their progress. An array of prizes will be on display, including a beetle barn and an ant farm. Of course Eric Carle's The Hungry Caterpillar will be a prize option, as will other nature-related items: a remote-controlled rat, a deluxe sea-monkey kit, and-be on the alert for this one-a remote-controlled tarantula. Sports fans will be able to choose t-shirts and posters from great baseball and football teams.

"Catch the Reading Bug!" marks the ninth summer that the library has run the summer reading program in Canton. Each summer youngsters have racked up an astounding number of books and pages read, and have, more often than not, exceeded the previous year's totals.

"We look forward to meeting all of Canton's hands-on explorers and excited readers, and I know that our community's children will love the activities, books, special programs, and prizes that we have for them this summer," said Children's Librarian Heather Baker.

As in years past, youngsters will be able to purchase summer reading t-shirts, this year in an eye-catching green with the logo "Catch the Reading Bug!" emblazoned on the front. The t-shirt, in both adult and children's sizes, is available now. Quantities are limited, so shop early. "We expect they will sell out by mid-June," according to Heather.

Children of all ages may participate. Even children as young as two are able to take part by having books read to them. And when an older child reads to a younger child, the book counts for both of them.

There are prizes for every age and interest, donated by local groups and vendors. And although some lucky youngsters will walk away with prizes at the end of the summer, every reader is a winner. For having read only three books, a child will receive a coupon for free food at a number of local venues. Coupons for "free food for three books" apply to the first 15 books a child has read.

A number of events are planned for the summer's festivities. The official launch event for the summer reading program is on Wednesday, June 25 at 2:00 PM when Alex the Jester will be bringing his "wacky brilliance" to the library. Dressed in colorful garb, floppy hat, and jingling bells, Alex the Jester relies heavily on sight gags to delight his audience. On Tuesday, July 15 at 6:30 PM, a "Princess Party and Story Time" will take place, with costumes for dressing up, make-up for trying on, princess wishes for granting, and, of course, princess stories for the telling. The summer reading finale party is scheduled for Monday, August 18 from 3:00-5:30 PM, with a performance of "Cajun and Zydeco for Kids" by the New Orleans performer Papillion. Louisiana grows its bugs big, y'all, and "papillion" is French for "butterfly."

Throughout the summer there will be a series of drop-in story times for preschoolers and kindergartners on Thursday mornings. On Friday mornings there will be a series of "Crafternoons," programs consisting of a craft and a story for school-age youngsters. Additional programs and events will round out the offerings in July and August. The full list of summer reading program offerings will be available in the library and online in early June.

Registration for summer reading begins on June 2. Participants may stop by to record their progress beginning Monday, June 23. Readers have until Friday, August 22 August 15 to read and record their books. The program is free. Registration is required.