By FRANCES SMITH / Community Columnist

A Summer Challenge of heroes and readingis over for 670 children who participated in our six-week program.

Under the theme of heroes, kids set goals, checked out and read books and earned prizes and certificates.

Our Super Readers’ Wall of Fame recognized kids who read at least five books. Besides story times, youngsters enjoyed many other activities.

Magic & Heroes with magician Russell Davis kicked off the challenge in June.Music, magic and heroes combined when Maynard, Magic & Music appeared. Jugglewell’s Brian Bruggeman shared skills using balls, scarves and plates.

Iron Giant Percussion entertained and educated. Kids made instruments and played with the band creating the audio simulation of a storm.

Dogs, a potbellied pig and clowns amused from Skin and Bones Comedy Circus.

On Maker Monday, kids painted superhero banks.

Laughing and dancing ensued when Mark Seymour of Be-at Your Best Drums performed with international instruments.

Guests at the Superhero-Princess Tea Party enjoyed hot teas and desserts.

The science of bubbles was revealed during Lights, Action, Bubbles with Miss Kit. Critter fans learned about animal ‘super powers’ from educators and animals from the Alabama 4-H Center.

Tweens and teens launched their challenge during Unmasked! Uncover the Secrets of Magic with magician Tommy Johns.

During craft sessions, teens decorated masks and learned to make potato stamps. They went on a Culinary Quest taking part in an Iron Chef-inspired competition, as well.

We also offered special series. Our Drama Workshop ended with young actors performing The Tales of Various Children directed by Darrell Revel.

At our Community Heroes Book Club meetings, youngsters met: Alabaster firefighters Stephen Davis, Nathan Smitherman, Chase Laney and Brent Conway; optometrist Dr. Graham Rowland; Alabaster police Sgt. Coleman White; dental hygienist Kelly Pitts; librarian Carol Smith; and Adam Roper of the Alabaster Environmental Services Department.

During American Girls Save the Day, girls read and discussed Addy Saves the Day and had fun with dolls, crafts and games.

Lego League let kids get creative weekly.

The challenge ended in mid-July with our Super Finale.

Mary Poppins visited from the Red Mountain Theatre Company’s production of Mary Poppins.

She sang A Spoonful of Sugar and taught everyone to spell ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ with their bodies.

Drawings were held for a bicycle, a Kindle Fire and more.

The goal of the challenge was to inspire kids to read when not in school.

Caregivers read to the pre-literate. Our challenge was supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Alabama Public Library Service.

We thank: Alabama Shakespeare Festival, AmStar Cinemas, Arby’s, Bike Link, Birmingham Barons, California Pizza Kitchen, Dairy Queen, DeSoto Caverns Park, Friends of the Library, Momma Goldberg’s Deli, Oak Mountain Lanes, Red Mountain Theatre Company and Sonic.

Adults had fun with our Book-in-a-Jar Contest.

The winners, Rebekah Lauppe and Lindsey Irvin, each won a $25 MasterCard gift card.