Fort Simpson (July 26/04) - There's a dragon awaiting a young reader at the John Tsetso memorial library.

It may sound like a work of fiction but it's true. The dragon comes in the form of a kite, though. It's the top prize for a Summer Reading Club member under age 12 whose name is drawn at the end of the season.

Close to 20 youngsters have enroled in the reading program, according to librarian Lorraine Ocko. For every five books they finish, children receive a free swimming pass at the Fort Simpson pool.

Jumped right in

Three of the little bookworms were at the library on Thursday. Michael Gast, 7, said he has read seven books so far. When he started to describe the one he liked best -- Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type -- his sister Jennifer and friend Leanne Ocko eagerly jumped right in with their thoughts on the story, one they had both read and enjoyed as well.

They explained that the cows and the hens typed an ultimatum to farmer Brown, demanding electric blankets because it was cold at night. The cows refused to produce milk and the hens wouldn't lay eggs until their demands were met.

"He was angry that they were on strike," Michael said of farmer Brown, and Jennifer and Leanne giggled.

Leanne said she and her friends joined the summer reading program, "Because we like reading and some books are funny."

Jennifer also recommended Mummies Don't Coach Softball, from The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series. She said the mummy monster twists his ankle and his wrist because he keeps falling.

"It's cool," she said.

The Summer Reading Club is a nation-wide initiative sponsored by TD Bank and Library and Archives Canada. According to a fact sheet produced by the sponsors, 22 per cent of Canadians admit they have difficulty dealing with everyday written material.