Summertime equals kids with either days full of fun or parents sick of hearing "I'm bored."

Augusta-Richmond County public libraries have a way to keep kids mentally sharp this summer. Their summer reading program gives pupils through fifth grade a chance to win prizes either by reading 30 books or spending 15 hours reading. The deadline is July 24.

Incentives include a book, tickets to an Augusta GreenJackets baseball game, coupons to local restaurants and a certificate.

The theme for this year's program is Be Creative at Your Library, said Eileen McCoy, the director of children's services at the downtown library.

"When you read books, you can use your imagination," she said.

Mario Palmer, a fifth-grader at Westminster Schools of Augusta, loves to read and took first prize this year in the Accelerated Reader program at his school.

"I like to read when I have nothing to do," he said. "It gives me ideas for something interesting to do."

Reach Gracie Shepherd at (706) 823-3228 or gracie.shepherd@augustachronicle.com.