Summer program dares readers

The Cedar Rapids Public Library dares you to attend the 2015 Summer Dare reading programs kickoff party at the downtown library from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Sign up for the summer reading program, participate in fun challenges and enter in a drawing for the three bicycles and a tricycle, which will be given away the day of the party.

This year's summer programs includes activities tied to a different dare theme each week. Related events include movies at both library locations, Tuesday Specials, 'Up on the Roof” events, crafts and off-site programs at Brucemore, Jacolyn Park and Bever Park.

Start with Betty Birney's 11th tale about the irrepressible classroom hamster, Humphrey. It will have kids laughing out loud, jotting in their summer reading journals, and well on their way to becoming even better writers. 'Imagination According to Humphrey” explores children's creative thought processes when their teacher, Mrs. Brisbane, assigns a writing project using the title 'If I Could Fly.” The plot also includes Gigi, the guinea pig, and old familiars Og the Frog, Carlos, and the always entertaining students of Classroom 26. Humphrey's Top 10 Tips for Writers round off this junior fiction title, ideal for summer reading.

The 2015 Out Loud! Metro Library Network Author Series offers a dynamic and diverse lineup of speakers in June. NPR commentator and New York Times book critic Maureen Corrigan, author of 'Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading” and 'So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why it Endures” appears June 12. Rainbow Rowell, whose work includes 'Eleanor & Park,” 'Fangirl,” 'Attachments” and 'Landline” will speak June 19. Piper Kerman, author of 'Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison” is set to discuss her memoir on June 26. Her book served as the basis for the award-winning television series. All author talks will begin at 7 p.m. in The Hotel at Kirkwood Center.

For more information go to www.crlibrary.org.

' Melia Tatman is a librarian at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.