The Stonington Free Library’s long running summer reading program for children, which boasted 700 participants from toddlers to high school juniors last year, is back again.

Part of the attraction are the rewards for reading books during a period from June 13 to July 30. Depending on their ages and how long they read, children receive “silver dollars” to buy items in the library store including movie passes to Mystic Luxury Cinemas, gift certificates from Mel’s Downtown Creamery in Pawcatuck as well as toys, posters and books. They also earn tickets for a basket raffle on Aug. 1 which features 60 gift baskets.

Children’s Librarian Maris Frey, who has overseen the program for a decade, said it not only gets students to read but parents to read to their children to improve their early literacy skills.

The program has three levels of participation depending on their ages. Older children have to read 20 or 30 minutes to receive a silver dollar or raffle tickets. This summer’s program also has an Olympics theme because of the Rio games in August.

Of the 700 children who signed up last year, 84 percent actively read, which Frey said is far higher than most summer programs.

The library also “brings the program on the road” visiting the Stonington Human Services Building, Ocean Community YMCA branch in Mystic and the Stonington Community Center.

In addition, the library is again working with the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center which typically sees a drop in food donations in the summer when demand is high with students out of school and eating more meals at home.

Students who bring in a food item receive a raffle ticket.

“It encourages them to be generous in the community,” Frey said, adding that last year the library collected 500 items of food over the summer.

Children also makes book donations to the New Haven Reads, a non-profit organization that provides tutoring, educational family support and a community book bank.

The library also sponsors many other children’s programs throughout the summer. More information is at the library website, which also keeps summer reading lists from area schools.

The library has also sponsored an adult summer reading program over the past few years that is modeled after the children’s program. Every time someone checks out a book, their name is entered in a drawing and three winners are picked each week. Prizes include books, coffee mugs and other items. Adult patrons can also bring food donations for the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center.

j.wojtas@theday.com