By TARYN BROWN

Community Relations Librarian

More than 875 children and teenagers throughout Decatur County registered for the 2011 Vacation Reading Program at the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library. Sisters Lamia and Nina Perkins are Decatur County’s top readers this summer, each reading 580 books. Lamia and Nina visited the library at least once per week during the summer to check out an assortment of books and DVDs.

Lamia  is a second grade student at John Johnson Elementary. Her favorite books to read this summer were Strawberry Shortcake, Winnie the Pooh, and Hannah Montana, among many others. Lamia said that the best book she read all summer was Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? by Bill Martin.

Nina is a third grade student at John Johnson Elementary. Her favorite book that she read this summer was I Was a Third Grade Bodyguard, by Mary Jane Auch. She also enjoyed reading books including the Berenstain Bears, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Hannah Montana, and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

When Lamia and Nina are not reading, they like to swim, play video games, sing and go to the park. During the summer, they read more than 20 books per day. When school is in session, they each read approximately 10 books per day.

They are the daughters of Richard and Tamika Perkins. They have an older sister, Aaliyah, who is in ninth grade at Bainbridge High School, and an older brother, Devontae, who is in 10th grade at Bainbridge High School.

Along with a very successful Vacation Reading Program, more than 1,000 people attended summer programs at the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library, which included a World of Stories from storytellers Ms. Taryn and Ms. Debbie, a celebration of polka music and dance with the Pint-Size Polkas, Culture Man to the Rescue with professional storyteller Barry Stewart Mann, an introduction to Australian music and culture with Didgeridoo Down Under, and an End of Summer Party to celebrate the readers who completed the Vacation Reading Program.

The 2011 Vacation Reading Program at the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library was sponsored by the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library Foundation, Aaron’s Rent-to-Own, Hardee’s, Georgia Power, Rotary Club of Bainbridge, and Walmart.