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Quentin Fleming, 5, checks out books from the Downtown Library. The St. Joseph Public Library summer reading programs start June 1.

June begins the traditional summer reading programs for young people at Northwest Missouri libraries.

Student readers will be able to show their creativeness and express themselves by having a chance to read as many books as they want. Participants can often earn prizes for meeting reading goals.

Programs begin June 1 at the St. Joseph Public Library and the Grundy Jewett Norris Library in Trenton. In Chillicothe, young readers will find the Livingston County Public Library is involved in renovations. Young readers will be able to do independent reading beginning Monday at the library in Chillicothe.

Kids can get started on summer reading adventures on June 4 at the Carnegie Public Library in Albany. The Mercer County Library in Princeton kicks off its programs on June 5. The Maryville Public Library also starts June 5, with Bill Richardson’s program “Sweet Music in Harlem,” at 1:30 p.m.

Young readers at Rolling Hills Consolidated Library can begin participating at the library’s two branches starting on June 7.

Several area libraries got started in May.

The Daviess County Library in Gallatin kicked off its summer reading efforts on May 19, but kids still have time to jump in and have fun at their own pace. Mid-Continent Public Library’s three Northwest Missouri branches in Dearborn, Edgerton and Platte City start their programs in late May. The Gentry County Library program in Stanberry kicks off with a movie and eight weeks of activities.

Activities at the four St. Joseph Public Library branches for kids between the ages of 2 and 11 include weekly programs involving music, magic and mayhem.

Special programs for kids at the two Rolling Hills’ branches include the Parasol Puppets, the St. Joseph Symphony Petting Zoo, a Dance Arts Center celebration, Pirates for Dummies, a Wings of Love bird show, a storyteller and a naturalist.

“Express Yourself @ Your Library” will be the theme at most libraries. At the Rolling Hills branches on the Belt Highway and in Savannah, programs include jewelry making, poetry and play-writing workshops, Web site design and cartooning.

St. Joseph Public Library will offer young adult readers the opportunity to earn free pizza, movie passes, books and drawings for gifts.

To get started, a student can pick up a flier or a log sheet at any library. Parents can visit any library this summer to get details.

Marshall White can be reached

at marshall@npgco.com.