The Community Library Sedona’s 2025 Summer Reading Program will start on Wednesday, May 21, with free ice cream at the library from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and the stars will come out for the kickoff afterparty from 8 to 9 p.m. during Astronomy Night on the Commons, for which the Sirius Lookers will bring out high-powered telescopes to give attendees an up-close look at the night sky.
The program is intended to help kids under 17 maintain their reading skills during the summer.
“Kids should be sure to take part in the summer reading program because, No. 1, it’s fun to read,” Youth Services Manager Viviane Kraus said. “And No. 2 … it keeps kids reading at their grade level over the summer. … I hope that it will inspire lots of reading and they learn something new, they make a new friend, they learn a new story. And they come to some of our programs to connect with people at our programming this summer.”
The program requires participants to log the number of minutes they read over the summer starting on May 21, and they can turn in their reading logs between July 20 and 26. Readers must submit their logs by July 26 to be eligible for the prize drawing.
The Arizona Secretary of State’s website stated that in 2024, 120,136 kids took part in the program and read over 118.2 million minutes.
“This year the theme is ‘Color Our World,’ and we are having local artists come in and do some of the programs this summer, like the West Sedona School art teacher Sara Horton, Sacred Eagle art camp teachers, and other local artists are coming in as guests artists, and doing some guest craft and art with the kids, so we’re excited about that and everything we are offering this year,” Kraus said.
The closing celebration of “Color Our World” will take place on Wednesday, July 30, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with free food and the opportunity for participants to win over 50 prizes from local businesses. CLS will be featuring several artists from the city of Sedona’s Artist in the Classroom program.
Art Programs
• Color Our World Mini-Art Show Workshop: Monday, June 2, and Monday, June 16, 2 to 4 p.m.
• Face Painting Classes: Each Wednesday in June, 2 to 3 p.m.
• Cross-Stitching with Jana Anderson: Saturday, June 7, and Saturday, July 5, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Teen Sign Decorating, ages 10 to 17: Contribute to the collaborative art project for a new sign at CLS to be installed in the fall. Thursday, June 12, and Thursday, July 10, 2 to 4 p.m.
• Create Your Own Mosaic: Saturday, June 14, 1 to 2 p.m.
• Sun Catchers with Cindy Mahon: Ages 6 to 12, Tuesday, June 17, 2:45 to 4 p.m.
• Lantern Making with Kimberly Sager: Ages 6–12, Saturday, June 21, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Create Dream Catchers with Sara Horton: Ages 6 to 12, Tuesday, June 24, 1 to 2 p.m.
• Tween/Teen Yoga and Crafts with Kimberly Sager: Friday, June 27, 3 to 4 p.m.
• Make Christmas Ornaments with Maria Bowers: Ages 6 to 12, Monday, June 30, 2 to 3 p.m.
• Weave Your Own Potholder with Nancy Wilson: Saturday, July 12, 1 to 2 p.m.; advance registration required
Special Events
• Community Adopt-A-Paw and Movie with the Sedona Humane Society: Wednesday, May 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Moonlight the Owl: Friday, May 30, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Teen Cooking with Kimberly: Wednesday, June 18, and Wednesday, July 16, 4:30 to 6 p.m.; advance registration required.
• Cartooning with Mr. Jan[imal], aka Jan Marc Quisumbing: Wednesday, July 9, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Missoula Children’s Theatre: Free acting camp for children entering first grade through high school seniors. Auditions and registration will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 21, at the West Sedona School multipurpose room, immediately followed by a rehearsal. Rehearsals will take place daily from Monday, July 21 through Friday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Performances will take place on Saturday, July 26, at 3 and 5 p.m., and tickets for spectators are available for purchase at SedonaVillageRotary.org. For more information, call Rob Schaefer at (310) 463-7732.
For more information about CLS and a full list of summer programs, visit communitylibrarysedona.libcal.com.
