Brittany Griffin, Jocelyn McLin and Sydney Cross (left to right)

Twelve-year-old Jocelyn McLin and two of her friends started their summer reading program at a bowling alley.

Jocelyn, Brittany Griffin, 12, and Sydney Cross, 11, got to bowl free for two hours. All they did was sign up in St. Louis County Library's summer reading program.

The three were among the kids who bowled at the Dick Weber Bowling Lanes in Florissant. The county library reserved the lanes for the upper middle and high school kids.

Summer kickoffs for younger kids involved outdoor activities at three county parks.

Ten-year-old Maddie Harris and her brother, 8-year-old Eddie, were among the kids at the Faust Park. There, kids took part in face-painting and story-telling. They also got free admission to park attractions and got free ice cream treats.

Activities also are scheduled weekly at the 19 branch libraries. The younger kids program runs from June 1 to Aug. 11. The older kids program is from June 1-Aug. 17.

In addition, teens will compete in local karoake contests. That competition ends with finals Aug. 17 at the county library headquarters. Prizes go to the winners.

Bianca Roberts is the county library's youth services manager. She said summer reading program encourages kids to continue their reading even when school isn't in session.

Last year, 18,000 St. Louis area kids enrolled in the county's program.

Jocelyn McLin was one of those who participated last year.

Jocelyn said she's read over 30 books in the last year. "I like mysteries. Each book takes me about a week," she said. She gets many of her books at the Jamestown library branch.

Sydney Cross said she was in the county program last summer but read only one book. She plans to do better this year.

For Brittany, this is her first time in the summer reading program. But, she said she likes Nancy Drew books and "sometimes I read comedy."

The three girls are classmates at Salem Lutheran School in Black Jack.

Tyler and Trenton Wesche (left to right)

Thirteen-year-old Tyler Wesche and his 12-year-old brother, Trenton, also were among the kids at the Dick Weber Lanes.

While the kids were bowling, lights in the lanes dimmed while special spotlights showed up the pins. Also, loud kids' music was piped into the lanes by radio station Q95.5.

During the kids event, one adult bowler walked into the lanes, saw what was going on. He didn't say anything, just turned and walked away.

For Tyler and Trenton, reading comes naturally. Their mom is a librarian.

Both boys said their parents read to them just before bedtime when they were little kids. They both said they like mysteries and fantasy books the best.

Tyler is in seventh grade and Trenton, sixth at Our Lady of the Presentation School.

Maddie Harris was in the county reading program two years ago but not last year. Asked about her reading two years ago, she said, "I probably only read four books but I was only in third grade."

The fifth-grader said her parents read to all her brothers and sisters. "My mom reads to my younger brother (Will, 4). Before bed, he always says, 'Mommy, read me a book.'"

Maddie likes mysteries. She especially likes books by the author Willow Davis Roberts.

Eddie Harris is a second grader. Both go to St. Clare of Assisi School in Ellisville.

Eddie said he hasn't set any goal for reading this summer.

The county library's summer reading program lets the kids earn incentives for what they read. For the younger kids, the goals are set in minutes, not number of books. That way, kids get rewards for the time spent at reading, not the speed.

For older kids, the goals are set in numbers of three. They earn incentives pieces of reading, not just books. That's to encourage them to try other types of reading, such as magazines or even a special article.

For more information about the summer reading program, you can log onto the county library's website at: www.slcl.lib.mo.us and click on the Kids Page.