Children earn accolades for summer reading

Laguna Beach Library officials recognized the hard work of 80 students this summer with a barbecue, games and an awards ceremony Saturday at Bluebird Park.

The kids, ages 12 and younger, received medals for reading at least 10 hours as part of the Orange County summer reading program. The children could choose any titles and were required to submit reading logs throughout the program, which ran from June 22 through Aug. 2.

The goal was to get them excited about reading.

“It keeps them from losing academic headway they made during the school year,” librarian Pam Chesney-Algar said.

Library branch manager Jon Gilliom said the tradition of rewarding summer reading was in full swing when he joined the staff in 2012.

Cash Reynolds, an 11-year-old Laguna Niguel resident, said he read novels from the adventure-fiction series “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”

He preferred Tom Sawyer for its adventure theme.

Cash, who has participated in the program for three years, said reading sparks his imagination, and then “you can make up your own story.”

Friends of the Library, a volunteer group, footed the $500 for the hamburgers and hot dogs.