Carnival of Reading at the Library

About 150 kids and parents came to the Farmingdale Public Library Wednesday to enjoy games and hear stories as part of the "Dream Big-Read" summer reading club kickoff.

Toddlers to sixth graders participated, said Library Director Deborah Podolski.

The goal of the reading carnival is that "We want to encourage children and parents to read this summer and to prepare for the summer," she said.

Library staffers read books, played shell games, offered edible dirt as snacks, oversaw games and awarded prizes.

"It's wonderful to see all the parents here, reading to them and encouraging them to read," Podolski said.