Boise, Garden City and Boise State University librarians are bringing books to kids this summer with its Literacy in the Park program.

Each week librarians will visit 26 parks and read to kids. Literacy in the Park, created by the Idaho Commission for Libraries, is partnering with the Idaho Foodbank’s Picnic in the Park program to bring daily lunches and reading to students.

“Kids can lose up to three months of the progress they made during the school year if they don’t read over the summer,” said Julie Armstrong, the project coordinator. “It’s important to get books into the kids’ hands.”

The nine-week program will allow students to participate in a read-and-return process. Students can borrow a book for as long as they want and then return it to any Literacy in the Park location and choose another book to read.

“Coming to the park and borrowing the books give my kids a variety to read,” said Dena Douglass, a Boise parent of three. “Sometimes it’s hard to get to the library, but having the park nearby makes it convenient.”

Literacy in the Park is open to all kids in the community and extends through Aug. 5. Check out the Literacy in the Park schedule here.