Your brain is your reading muscle - if you don't keep it active your mental abilities can weaken.

This can be especially true for children. Teachers know what studies have proven. Children who are actively engaged in reading over the summer break retain more of what they have learned and experience, and much less "brain drain."

In short, kids who read go back to school in the fall ready to learn new material.

The libraries in our region want to help your family keep reading.

Summer Reading Programs - with the theme "Dig Into Reading" - begin June 17 at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, in the Seagraves Children's Library, on the lower level at 702 E. Front. Ave. Programs are designed for ages newborn to 14. Young Adult Summer Reading Programs, for ages 12-18, are also scheduled.

Most programs do not require registration. Even if a child doesn't attend programs they are welcome to visit the Coeur d'Alene Public Library for a Reading Log. Children can track their reading time, and each time they record three hours of reading, or being read to, they can return to the library for a prize.

Students are also invited to vote for their school each time they visit the Coeur d'Alene Public Library through Aug. 31. The school with the most votes earns the right to display the Summer Reading Traveling Trophy in their school library throughout the school year.

Programs and special events for the children at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library this summer include:

* Badger Babies Lap-Sit: (Ages 0 - 2) Tuesdays 10:15-10:45 a.m. and Fridays 10:30-11 a.m., for children and a parent or other caregiver.

* Little Diggers Story Program: (Ages 2-4) Tuesdays 11-11:30 a.m. Stories, songs, bubbles and craft.

* Preschool Prairie Dogs Story Program: (Ages 3 - 5) Wednesdays 10:30-11 am. Stories, crafts and lots of fun.

* Music & Motion: (Ages 3 - 5) Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.-noon. Sing old favorites and learn some new songs.

* LEGO Club: (Ages 5 - 11) Thursdays 3-5 p.m. Extra-long sessions to build and be creative.

* Bookworms: (Ages 5 - 8) Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Stories, crafts and science.

* Around the World in 6 Weeks: (Ages 7 - 12) Thursdays 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Experience a new country each week and make a craft, Registration Required.

* Reading Pals: (Ages 5 - 8) An independent reading session in the children's library. Each time you come to read, pick out a beanie baby pal and burrow down in a comfortable spot to read out loud to your pal for 15-20 minutes. Earn a raffle ticket for a prize each time you turn your pal back in.

* Lunch Bunch Book Club: (Ages 9 - 12) Wednesdays 12:30 - 2 p.m. Registration Required. A bona fide book club format so you take the book home to read each week. Then return to the library for discussion and other fun activities. Bring your lunch.

* Kendama Club: (Ages 9 - 14) Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 p.m. Meet at the library to share tricks and techniques with each other. Each time you attend, you get a raffle ticket for the professional Kendama drawing. Drawing will be held at the final session of the summer.

* Indiana Bones, Storyteller: (All ages), Wednesday June 26, 3 p.m.

* Extreme Science With Radical Rick: Wednesday, July 31, 1 p.m.

* Monday Movies: Mondays 1-3 p.m.

Summer Reading is supported by a grant from the Friends of Coeur d'Alene Library.

Children younger than 6 visiting the library need to be supervised by an adult or a person who is at least 14 even during programs. Children ages 6-to-9 should be accompanied by someone who is at least 14 who will remain in the building.

For more information on Summer Reading in Coeur d'Alene, contact Youth Services at (208) 769-2315 Ext. 438.

Hayden and Post Falls libraries are kicking off their programs Wednesday with a special registration day.

Summer readers, ages birth through 14, are invited to come by the Post Falls Library, 821 N. Spokane St., anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. or 3 and 7 p.m. to receive a free book and make a plant craft.

They'll receive a reading log too.

While children may register for Summer Reading any time during the summer, the book and the plant craft are only available on Wednesday.

The Post Falls Summer Reading program offers weekly prizes and drawings will be held throughout the summer to keep kids excited about reading.

The Hayden Library, 8385 N. Government Way, will also launch its summer reading program on Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to noon. Children can register, receive a free book, and make their own book bucks wallet. The wallet will come in handy, too.

Children will earn book bucks for their reading efforts and then cash them in for prizes at the library's book buck store.

Those attending the Library Network's "Dig into Reading" programs at Harrison, Pinehurst, Rathdrum and Spirit Lake can also earn book bucks and enjoy free family programs.

"Indiana Bones," an award-winning storyteller, performing artist and children's author will perform at several locations. See him Wednesday, June 26, 10:30 a.m. at Hayden; Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. at Post Falls; Thursday, June 27, 11 a.m. at Rathdrum (City Park); Thursday, June 27, 1 p.m. at Spirit Lake Library and Thursday, June 27, 3 p.m. at Athol Library.

Other programs lined up at multiple locations include Cecil the Magician, Lego Robots and the Youth Marimba Band. All libraries will celebrate "Dig into Reading" with a variety of special programs.

A complete listing of Community Library Network summer reading events is available at CommunityLibrary.Net/Summer.