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31 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, August 21, 2009 Oakville kids read thousands of books this summer Continued from page 30 Summer Reading Club, one boy named Ben wrote, because "I love reading and because I loved the books." Parents love the TD Summer Reading Club because it rewards kids for keeping up their reading skills over the summer when they're out of school. Studies show that kids need to read at least six books over the summer to maintain their reading level. And, wow, did these kids read. Thousands and thousands of books were read, with Robert Munsch coming in as the most-read author. The top five most popular books were Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm, The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers by Scott Lobdell, Junie B., First Grader by Barbara Park and The Last Straw, also by Jeff Kinney. The incentive prizes kids earned for their reading were very generously provided by our sponsors. A big thank you to TD Canada Trust, African Lion Safari, Conservation Halton, McDonald's Restaurants of Oakville, YMCA of Oakville and Friends of the Oakville Public Library. Many individual donors also contributed to the program and allowed us to hire the summer students that help with the club in each branch. Because of all of these donors, the program is offered for free to all kids in Oakville. This year there was an added bonus. For the first time ever, registration and reporting were available online, making it much easier for kids who were away over the summer to participate. Some are already looking forward to next year's TD Summer Reading Club. One little boy at Tuesday's Iroquois Ridge party was asking what the theme of next year's club would be... The answer? You'll have to wait 10 more months to find out. The countdown is on. -- Submitted by the Oakville Public Library Author appreciates Canadian story Rudyard Griffiths, cofounder of The Dominion Institute will speak to the Canadian Club of Halton Peel on Thursday, Sept. 10 at the Oakville Conference Centre. The Dominion Institute (www.dominion.ca) is a national charitable organization dedicated to creating active and informed citizens through greater knowledge and appreciation of the Canadian story. After 10 years as the institute's executive director, Griffiths took time off to write Who We Are: A Citizen's Manifesto, critiquing the argument that Canada is a "postnational" state and that the country's lack of a strong national identity is an asset in a world of economic globalization and value change. The book, published in March, questions whether this vision of country equips us with the reserves of cultural and social capital that we will need to meet the interconnected challenges of rapid climate change, a failing immigration system and a fast aging society. The Oakville Conference Centre is at 2515 Wyecroft Rd. Registration and cash bar begin at 6 p.m. Dinner is at 7 p.m. Cost is $15 for students, $30/members, $40/non-members. Contact Barry Wylie at 905-827-6302 or bwylie@globalserve.net.