PROSPECT - The summer reading program at Prospect Community Library had a banner year this summer, with more children reading a record number of books.

A total of 118 children read more than 5,000 books over the course of the 11-week program, according to Jean Sarnese, librarian.

"I'm so proud of them," she said. "It's the most ever."

Sarnese has been hosting the program for eight summers. When the children read 3,000 books last year, she thought that was the all-time high. There were only 70 children involved at the time.

Another new feature made its debut this year, with the children planning, creating and performing a puppet show. The show and picnic to culminate the end of the program were held Friday at the library.

Assistant librarian Joanne Ruby was in charge of the special group that met Mondays to plan the puppet show. About eight youths in grades one through seven wrote the play, made the scenery and performed with the puppets, which were special ordered for the show. The title was "Battle for the Princess," according to Ruby.

"In the kingdom of Prospect, two knights battled for the princess," she said. In the end, one got the princess and one romanced "Dorothy," a more homely character with a good heart.

The picnic to culminate the program was then planned as a dual wedding reception for the two couples, said Ruby.

The play also involved a pet dragon, "Paul," to honor the summerlong theme of the reading program - dragons. Other activities during the program included a magician, clown, juggler and performers from the Society for Creative Anachronism's annual medieval festival held last week at Cooper's Lake campground, said Sarnese.

Children in the summer reading program included those ranging from preschool to seventh grade. Each child read at his or her own level to complete the 5,000 books.

Since this year's group was so large, it was divided into two meeting times, Wednesdays and Fridays, for about an hour each day. Those working on the puppet show were volunteers.

Sarnese was thankful for the warm and breezy day on Friday, remembering last year's banquet held on a 50-degree day.

"We froze to death last year," she said.

Sarnese said she hopes next year's summer program is even bigger and better.

"It's the love of our life," Sarnese said, speaking for the library staff. "I really love having the kids here."