Unearth a Story

The image shows a bright, playful banner with the words “UNEARTH A STORY™” in large, bold letters — “UNEARTH” in blue and “A STORY” in pink. On the left, a green dinosaur lounges on the grass beside a stack of books, while on the right, a purple pterodactyl perched on a branch reads an open book amid tropical plants and palm trees, creating a fun, prehistoric reading theme.

SUMMER READING EVENTS & PROGRAMS

Monday, June 1st thru Monday, August 31st

Register for Challenge & Events

SRP Brochure 2026

Hide n’ Seek Digby

Summer Reading mascot, Digby, is hiding all around the library. Can you find one of the five Digby cards playing Hide n’ Seek? Trade the found Digby card for an entry to win our Stuffed Digby. Children can also trade their Reading Challenge jibbitz award for an entry. Digby Cards will be hidden after all 5 are found. Check the Digby Card counter to see how many cards are still hiding. Digby cards are hidden in the main area and the children’s room.

Drawing held on August 31st during The Last Stomp, our summer reading finale.

A plush toy shaped like a triceratops dinosaur sits on a red table surrounded by books. The toy is bright blue with lighter blue and gray accents, three white horns, and shiny golden eyes, creating a cheerful and inviting display in a well-lit library or reading area.

Digby cards will be hidden after all 5 are found

Participation in our Summer Reading Challenge not required

This program is made possible through the CCLS Summer Reading 2026 Mini Grant, provided by the Southern Chautauqua Community Foundation

Junior Paleontologist Training

Young explorers are invited to join our Junior Paleontologist Training, a hands‑on, four‑night journey into the world of dinosaurs, fossils, and real scientific discovery. Each night focuses on a different paleontology skill — from excavation and reconstruction to tracking, observation, and final analysis. Kids will dig, discover, create, investigate, and earn stickers/stamps in their observation journals as they work toward becoming certified Junior Paleontologists.

Designed for ages 2–11, this multi‑night program blends science, creativity, and sensory play in a welcoming, accessible environment. Families can attend one night or all four, but completing the full series gives kids the complete paleontologist experience.

Training Schedules
The image is a bright, playful flyer for “Unearth a Story™ Paleontologist Training Night” at the Sinclairville Free Library. It features a green background with leafy vines and a cartoon dinosaur reading a book, listing activities such as Hands-On Dig, Dino Stomp, Fossil Rubbing, and Dino Name for children ages 2–11, with dates for additional training nights in July and August.
The image is a bright, playful flyer for “Unearth a Story™ Paleontologist Training Night” at the Sinclairville Free Library. It features a green background with leafy vines and a cartoon dinosaur reading a book, listing activities such as Hands-On Dig, Dino Bone Assembly, Dino Scavenger Hunt, and Fossil Necklace for children ages 2–11, with additional training nights in August.
The image is a bright green flyer for the Unearth a Story™ Paleontologist Training Night at the Sinclairville Free Library. It features playful dinosaur graphics and lists training stations such as excavation, designing dino eggs, and creative crafts, with event details for Monday, August 3rd at 5 PM, encouraging children ages 2–11 to register and bring their observation journals for the final session on August 31st.

Monday, August 31st Training Schedule Coming Soon…

This program is made possible through the CCLS Summer Reading 2026 Mini Grant, provided by the Southern Chautauqua Community Foundation

Registration is Required

For ages 2 to 11. Parent/Caregiver must stay with child.

Each craft/activity should take around 15+ minutes.

Training Stations open from 5 to 7 pm

Children can also earn 25 points for their Summer Reading Challenge by attending this program.

One observation journal per child for all four (4) Training Nights

Mobile Summer Reading

The image shows a digital illustration of a child sitting peacefully on a moss-covered tree branch while reading a book. The child has brown skin and hair styled in two rounded buns, wears a blue sweater, purple striped pants, and tan shoes, with a calm expression suggesting focus and enjoyment of reading.

Village of Sinclairville & Town of Charlotte Summer Recreation @ 9:30

Town of Gerry Summer Recreation @ 11:00

Travel back in time with Miss Jessica’s Mobile Summer Reading Program! Each week of the DINOLYMPICS brings new dinosaur tales and minute‑to‑win‑it challenges.

DINOLYMPICS SCHEDULE

July 10th: Dino Dash – relay race style games

July 17th: Dino Scramble – puzzle challenges

July 24th: Shake Your Tail – move and shake water challenge

July 31st: T-Rex Toss – team tossing point challenge

August 7th: Eruption Day – volcano eruption challenge

Ready, set, RAWR! The DINOLYMPICS begin soon.

The Street Beneath My Feet

Learn about all that lies beneath your feet, buried or growing in the earth. From bones to rocks to buildings from long ago, the cycles of wind, rain, and time have created layers of mystery, just waiting to be discovered. Delve deep into the earth and come back up learning about geology, biology, ecology, archaeology, paleontology, and more. Real objects will make the discoveries in the book tangible and spark curiosity for years to come. Join 4-H for this special program as part of the Unearth a Story theme of the summer.

The image shows the cover of the children’s book The Street Beneath My Feet by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer. The illustrated design depicts a cross-section of the ground under a street, showing layers of soil, rocks, roots, fossils, and bones beneath a person’s feet, visually exploring what lies underground in a colorful, educational style.

Monday, July 13th at 5 pm

Program based on the children’s picture book: The Street Beneath My Feet by Charlotte Guillain

Title added to our collection through the sponsorship of CVCS Sinclairville Elementary School PTO

Program presented by Sarah Hatfield, 4-H Youth Development Educator from Cornell Cooperative Extension | Chautauqua County

This program is made possible through the CCLS Summer Reading 2026 Mini Grant, provided by the Southern Chautauqua Community Foundation

Registration is Required

Children can also earn 25 points for their Summer Reading Challenge by attending this program.*

*Requires registration for our Summer Reading Challenge

Unearth a LEGO Creation

Our LEGO dig site is open for junior makers. Unearth bricks, build something brilliant, and take your creation home as a trophy of your imagination.

Saturday, July 18th 10:30 to 12:30 pm

BUILD IT, KEEP IT
The image shows Caleb, a smiling 9-year-old boy wearing an orange button-up shirt seated at a table inside a library. In front of him is a detailed LEGO model of a space shuttle labeled “United States of America,” built with white, blue, orange, and black pieces, while bookshelves and other patrons appear in the background.
Caleb, age 9
The image shows James, a 12-year-old boy with curly hair wearing a black T-shirt and wristwatch, holding a gray LEGO spacecraft model. The detailed build features angled wings, a cockpit with a small LEGO figure inside, and is displayed in a library setting with tables, chairs, and shelves visible in the background.
James, age 12

Children can also earn 25 points for their Summer Reading Challenge by attending this program.*

*Requires registration for our Summer Reading Challenge

**For ages 5 & up. Parent/Caregiver must stay with child.

Unearth Your Talent

Do you have a unique skill or talent that you would like to share or teach??? Contact the library…We would love to hear about it…

MUSIC

Monday, July 13th 6:00 pm

Join local musicians, Susan & Rico, as they share 30 minutes of original music.

Light Refreshments provided by sponsor CVCS Sinclairville Elementary School PTO

SUMMER READING CHALLENGES

Children

Color a circle on the reading log for each 15 minutes that they read to or are read to. Reading Records will be available at the library front desk starting June 1st. Earn a jibbitz (croc charm) at 360, 720, 1080, 1440 & 1800 minute levels. A jibbitz bracelet may be selected at registration. Reading logs are due by Wednesday, September 9th.

Throughout the summer, see if you can complete the 10 challenges listed on the back of your reading log. Each challenge is worth 10 points. You can also earn 25 points by attending a library program* this summer! Earn a jibbitz for every 50 points. Ages birth to 11.

We are also offering a Children’s Activity Page. Complete all 10 activities and earn a jibbitz. Ages birth to 5.

Childrens Tracking Log
Childrens Activity Page

Teens & Adults

Teens & Adults are asked to record the number of books that they read. Reading Records will be available at the library front desk starting June 1st.  Reading logs are due by Wednesday, September 9th. Ages 18+.

Teen & Adult Tracking Log

*Excludes weekly library programs: Baby Talk, Story Hour & Mobile Summer Reading.

Our dinosaur dig site is still under construction — check back soon for more roaring summer reading fun.