Rolly's Summer Reading Program helps fight the summer slide

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Sacramento comic book shop
Form for Summer Reading Program
Children's reading ability has a tendency to slide during the summer months -- and not in a good way.

We want to help with that. Of course, the Sacramento Library also has a summer reading program for children. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Education has numerous tips on how to avoid the summer slide.

A New Reading Program for Sacramento Children

This summer we're introducing Rolly's Summer Reading Program for children 12 years of age and under. When your children read 8 books of their choosing and submit the form, they'll receive a free comic book.* Plus, they can earn a bonus book by drawing and writing their own comic (details below).

We're dividing the summer into two parts, so your child can participate one time in each period:

  • Part 1: June 10 - July 15, 2014
  • Part 2: July 16 - August 31, 2014
So, if your child participates in both parts of Rolly's Summer Reading Program, she or he could earn up to 4 free comic books.

How the Program Works

It's simple:

2. Let your child choose each book he or she wants to read.

It doesn't matter if the book is 32-pages with lots of pictures or 100-pages of text. Every book qualifies. It doesn't matter if the book is from your home library, the public library, or something you pick up at the shop (save with Rolly's Reading Club).
3. After reading a book, write the title on the form along with what your child liked about the book.

Use a separate sheet of paper or a reading journal, if you'd like. Also, it's better if it's in your own child's handwriting. If you help a little, please make sure it's in your child's own words. As a secondary option, we'll gladly accept art inspired by the book. 

4. Once the form is full, turn it in for a free* comic book from Empire's Comics Vault.
5. Bonus!  Have your child write and draw his or her own comic book for one more free comic book.
How? Take an 8 1/2 sheet of paper, fold it in half. Add art. Add words. 

More summer reading resources

If you're looking for more information on the subject, search the internet and you'll find plenty of great articles, research, and resources.
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*Free comics limited to select children's titles on-hand in Empire's Comics Vault's inventory.


Welcome to 2014 and What's New at Empire's This Year

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If you blink on December 31, your eyes re-open two weeks into January. That's how fast a year moves. We take that as a sign of good things to come.

In fact, besides the fantastic announcements at this year's Image Con (wow, do they know how to kick off a year!), we too have some new things for you this year.

There's no doubt in our mind that this year's Free Comic Book Day will be our biggest and best ever, especially for our Comic Book Savings Club members. In 2013, we gave away more than 15,000 free comic books. We'll announce numbers again later this year. We're adding a new benefit in 2014: Graphic novels and collected editions are always on sale at 10% off for members. We're also experimenting with a board gaming night for members, so bring your favorite board game and let's play!

Store mascot Rolly the Pug
Speaking of savings programs, last year we started Rolly's Comic Book Reading Club for Children, a.k.a., Rolly's Reading Club (for short!), and we only had a soft rollout. This year, you'll be hearing lots more about it. How fantastic is it? Well, for kids 12 and under, comics from the kids shelf are always -- that's right, ALWAYS -- on sale. Plus, to encourage reading during the summer, we'll be rolling out a summer reading program with more incentives.

Now, here's a highly experimental, and hopefully, fun program that we're trying through March -- it's called the Rolly Button Program. Earn Rolly buttons by interacting with the store in one way or another (there's a whole chart of things you can do to earn buttons). Then, when you've collected enough buttons, redeem them for cool prizes, like store merchandise, or discounts (there's a whole chart of prizes too)! Ready to play? Start collecting today. You can earn 1 Rolly button by letting us know what you think about what we have planned this year in the comments section of this post. Be sure to show your comment to Ben when you're in the store, so he can give you a button.

Comic book videos
We'll continue bringing you up-to-date with highlights from each week's new comic books via our award winning (not really) YouTube channel, EmpiresCV.tv, where we've already amassed 134 weekly episodes, plus special guest shows by local comic book enthusiasts. In 2014, we're re-starting our comic book podcast. Yes, it's back by popular demand.

Last year we started featuring local artists on our art wall. This year watch for the return of the art gallery at Empire's Comics Vault. Know someone who should show in our gallery? Have them contact Ronnie via email.

Last but most definitely not least, we'll be promoting our favorite roller derby team and invited you to join us for their bouts! Long live the Sac City Rollers!

We hope you a great year too. What's on your list of things to accomplish in 2014?

See you in the shop!

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