Whatever the reason - sunny weather, different locations, or carry over from last year's success - the Linn Library League's summer reading program in East Linn County was a hit this summer.

Coordinator Sue Spiker said that more youngsters participated in the reading program this year, and more hours were spent reading by those children.

"It was encouraging that we had a lot of returning kids from last year," Spiker said. "That's really positive."

The summer reading program ended on Aug. 1, although the League's bookmobile will continue rolling through the end of October. More than 200 youngsters up to age 14 attended the reading program 626 times.

The theme for the season was "Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds." In addition to allowing time for children to read to adults and vice versa, there were crafts and special guests. Included on this summer's agenda were the Wonderkeepers Storytelling Guild and the Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire Performers. Special favorites this year were Mary Esther Hart's reptile show and puppet shows by both Amy Gray and Jason Ropp. Other programs were The Magic of Reading by Jay Frasier, singing and instruments by Vanda Scott, and Flower Fairies by Wendy Willard.

"We had wonderful participation this year from Tangent Elementary and Millersburg," Library League founder May Garland said. Tangent was added to the program, as was Riverview School in Lebanon, which draws youngsters from Crowfoot and Waterloo areas as well as in town.

Spiker said that the focus both this year and last was on exposing youngsters to the New York City Library's 100 Picture Books That Everyone Should Know list. Last year the children were introduced to a third of the list, and this year they were read another third. Spiker hopes to complete the list next summer. Children are given incentives throughout the program for minutes read. This year participants read 1,056 hours, earning free books.

The summer reading program and bookmobile are funded with money from the Meyer Memorial Trust and a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act distributed through the Oregon State Library. Tentative approval has already been given for grant money for next year.

Volunteers at each of this year's seven sites assisted Spiker with the program. Each hour or hour-and-a-half program ended with the arrival of the bookmobile, where youngsters were encouraged to check out books.