Are you looking for something exciting to do with your family this summer?

Why not explore ancient Egypt, fly a broom to Hogwarts, scale Mount Everest, solve the mystery of the brass bound trunk, or discover something Strange but True at the Maple Ridge Library.

This summer, travel as far as your imagination will take you with the summer reading club.

There is a reading club for every member of your family: the read-to-me summer reading club for preschoolers, the kids summer reading club for school-aged children, the teen summer reading club, and the adult summer reading club.

Participation is free. Every family member can get a reading record.

Then read for 20 minutes a day, track your reading, and come into the library for everything from stickers, to prizes, to draw entries.

The theme for this year's summer reading club is Strange but True, and the shelves of the Maple Ridge Library are filled with books about exotic places, extraordinary animals, puzzling mysteries, and scientific marvels.

All you need to do to open the door to the wonders of the imagination is read.

Read anything you like: books, magazines, graphic novels, newspapers.

Most importantly, read it together. Studies have shown that reading together as a family enhances everything from literacy to self-esteem.

This year, to encourage families to participate together, we will have a special prize draw for families that all enter and complete their reading records by the end of the summer.

Maple Ridge Library is also hosting a series of summer reading club performances at the library. Aimed at school-aged children, these performances are sure to delight and engage. Performances include an afternoon of storytelling and song with Max Tell; a magic show with Norden the Magician; Stories on Wheels - an amazing comic performer brings to life an a traditional Japanese form of street storytelling; Mad Science - discover the exciting side of chemistry in a show full of sizzle and smoke and bang; Mike Deas, the artist who designed the kids summer reading club record; and musician Chris Hamilton.

Visit or call the Maple Ridge Library for a schedule of our summer performers.

. Puppets in the Park is back this summer, as well. Join us Wednesday evenings at 6: 45 p.m. at the Memorial Peace Park bandstand on July 4 and 18, Aug. 1 and 15. Bring a picnic, sit back, and enjoy the library's smallest stars - our talented puppets.

. Sizzing Storytimes: For the preschool crowd we are offering morning storytimes at 10: 45 a.m. on Tuesdays until Aug. 14, and on Thursdays from July 5 to 26.

. Special Storytimes: In addition to our amazing in-house storytellers, we have three special guest storytellers coming to storytime this summer.

On July 12, join Maple Ridge Bear Aware expert Rosie Wijenberg for an entertaining and informative program that promotes bear awareness and safety.

On Aug. 7, Paula Justus of Reading, Rhythm and Rhyme will present an interactive program of song and movement.

And, on Aug. 14, Cree elder Lorre Gibson will entertain us with traditional stories, artifacts, and regalia.

Hurry in - summer reading club registration is open now. Let the adventures begin.

- Christine McPhee is a librarian at the Maple Ridge Library