One of my favorite childhood memories in Lafayette was when I participated in the Burton School (now Burton Valley) reading competition the summer before fourth grade. The contest was titled “Shoot the Moon,” and the student who read the most books was rewarded with a banana split, enjoyed with the teacher. That contest (which I happened to win) instilled in me a lifelong love of reading. I loved my stack of library books and the imaginary worlds to which they transported me. (The wonderful children’s author Beverly Cleary was a favorite.) To this day, summertime means reading time for me. In Lamorinda, we are fortunate that our children continue to have wonderful opportunities to challenge themselves with reading activities. Though we are well into summer, it’s not too late to get started. Here are a few programs to consider:

Contra Costa County Library’s “Read Beyond the Beaten Path,” through July 30.

Sign up with Beanstack to track your participation. Print your own reading passport or visit your local library to pick one up. Everyone who completes summer reading wins prizes, including a free book, and is entered into a drawing for a chance to win other great prizes.

Bel & Bunna’s Books Story Time: Gather on Mondays this summer at 9:30 am at the Lafayette Library Amphitheatre for story time with Lafayette’s Bel & Bunna’s Books. On Wednesdays, story time is 9:30 am in the store at 3581c Mt. Diablo Blvd, and on Saturdays, in-store at 11:00 am.

Stanley Middle School Summer Reading Program: Stanley’s summer reading program is designed to help 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students understand that reading is an enjoyable pastime. They hope to instill the idea that making time in the day or night to read is good for the mind and a wonderful way to reduce noise and stress. The goal for this program is to read at least four books. Students can keep track with this summer reading form.

Finally, no program sign-up is needed to visit the Friends Corner Book Shop, behind the Lafayette Library & Learning Center on Golden Gate Way, where you can stock up on well-priced used books for all ages. The children’s section is a trove of both classics and current titles. The entire shop is well laid out according to subject matter. This non-profit gem of a bookshop is run by devoted volunteers – each of whom were surely bit by the reading bug in the same way I was so long ago.