A zookeeper from Insectropolis, an insect museum in Toms River, gave a hands-on presentation June 28. Mike Cummings showed the kids a variety of bugs, including tarantulas and scorpions.

Libraries across the New Jersey are doing their own variation of "Catch the Reading Bug" this summer, library director Linda Corona said. The library has done a summer reading club for the past several years and expanded it for pre-school-aged children this year.

"We want to get them interested in reading at that young age," Jamey Feuer, head of youth services at the library, said. "We want to also get the parents in the habit of bringing their kids to their library."

Feuer said the program shows kids that the library isn’t just a building full of books.

"Education can be fun too," he said.

The summer reading program runs until Aug. 7. Kids receive prizes based on how many hours or pages they reading during the summer.

"We coordinate with the schools for their summer reading lists," Feuer said. "We set the books aside so parents know they can come get them for their kids."

The kick-off event featured goody bags with coupons for local businesses and the choice of a ladybug or butterfly habitat for kids to take home.

"A lot of local businesses have taken a real interest in being a part of this program," Feuer said. "They’re showing that it’s a real community effort to get kids into reading."