The Clark County Public Library was abuzz Saturday with hundreds of children taking part in exciting activities to celebrate the start of the summer reading program.

After registering and receiving their purple summer reading library cards, children were able to get balloon animals, have their faces and arms painted, play games and win prizes.

Signing up for the program will allow readers the opportunity to earn new books simply by recording what they read. Infants and toddlers who can’t read on their own can track the book parents or guardians read to them.

This is the program’s 15th year, according to Renee Wallace, head of the youth services department at the library. Its goal is to create and encourage young readers.

She said the library staff expects between 1,300 and 1,500 students to take part in the program this summer.