The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is kicking off its 12th annual Summer Reading Extravaganza this Sunday in Oakland from noon to 5:00 PM.

There will be a giant slide, puppet shows, music, plays, belly dancing, story times and wild animals, all to encourage children, teens, and adults to keep reading and learning during the summer months.

The Carnegie Library’s Director of Communications Trina Walker said, “It’s important for us that people continue to read during the summer, particularly children. Studies have shown that children who read during the summer return to school more ready to learn and ahead of their peers.”

While the library will provide booklists, Walker said children and teens can keep logs of any type of reading they do, from comic books and newspapers to favorite novels. Being read to by an adult also counts.

13,000 people participated in the library’s program last year. Registration is available online.