Get ready to explore A Universe of Stories, the theme for the Iowa City Public Library’s 2019 Summer Reading Program.

This year’s program will be held June 1 through August 10, with pre-registration beginning May 13. Registration can be completed in-person at the Library, online at srp.icpl.org, on the Bookmobile or during ABC Saturday, formerly known as Children’s Day, on Saturday, June 1. ABC Saturday will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the Summer of the Arts Festival.

June 8 is the first day participants can turn in game cards for prizes.

Participation is free and available for all ages, babies through adults. All registrants will receive a game card to track their progress in meeting summer reading goals. The game cards also include information for all Summer Reading Program activities, programs and events.

Go here more information about A Universe of Stories.

Get ready to learn more about local history with the Iowa City Public Library’s Weber Days.

Our annual celebration of local history is held every May in honor of Iowa City’s historian, the late Irving B. Weber. Weber was instrumental in helping Iowa City preserve its history, writing more than 800 articles detailing what it was like to grow up in Iowa City. 

This year’s lineup of programming is for anyone interested in learning more about the community they call home. Programs specific to younger patrons include the following:

Irving Weber Storytime on Thursday, May 16, 10:30 a.m. in the Storytime Room: In celebration of Irving Weber, we will learn about his historical connections to Iowa City including his local history bus tours, his swimming career at Iowa and his days as an ice cream maker!

Storytime with Johnson County Fair Queen Caroline Young on Saturday, May 18, 10:30 a.m. in the Storytime Room: We will have a special guest for a Fair-themed storytime today: Johnson County Fair Queen Caroline Young. After stories, songs and information about the county fair, Caroline will introduce us to one of her animal friends from her family's farm!

Sunday Fun Day: Ice Cream Cones for Weber Days on Sunday, May 26, 2 p.m. in the Storytime Room: Historian Irving Weber was an owner of an ice cream shop! Just in time for summertime, create your own ice cream cone craft to your liking.

Weber Days Family Night: Mural Walk with Thomas Agran, Director of Public Art on Tuesday, May 28, 6 p.m. in the Lobby near the Linn Street entrance: You may have noticed that some amazing murals have appeared around downtown Iowa City. Take a tour with Thomas Agran, Director of Public Art for the Iowa City Downtown District, to learn more about them. Iowa Citizens of all ages are invited for this evening stroll and art tour. We will meet in the Lobby at 6 p.m. This event will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Registration is not required, but is strongly encouraged.

Miss Casey calls Sweet Dreamers by Isabelle Simler soft and cozy. "Simler's latest is a beautiful and informative look at animal sleep habits. Also, it glows under black light!"

Miss Melody's son adores The Princess and the Pit Stop by Tom Angleberger, reading it more than a dozen times in three days. "My kiddo loves cars and racing, and this book does a great job with balancing exciting cool illustrations with what my kid actually wants to hear stories about--racing cars! There's even a lesson worked in, to persevere despite setbacks. I love that this is a book with a female lead character that is also exciting for boys."

For the chapter book crowd, Miss Morgan recommends The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. "I love this book about seeking truth and acceptance. With the help of her friend Brandon, Candice searches for the truth about her grandmother’s failed tenure as city manager. Following clues her grandmother left her, their search for treasure instead leads to a decades old cover up of racial injustice, the truth of which was ignored by the city for years."