Charm City Moms: Family fun and summer reading on the first weekend of June - A blog for Maryland parents by The Baltimore Sun's Kate Shatzkin

This is the weekend that summer reading kicks off in earnest at city libraries. Branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library will have kickoff events Saturday. The themes are artsy: "Be Creative" for children and "Express Yourself" for teens.

Howard County's program started last week. Baltimore County libraries will start their program next week, on June 15. You can sign up starting Monday in Anne Arundel County; summer reading activities start there June 15, as they do in Carroll County.

Here's more on tap (with thanks to interns Danielle Makia and Lauren Hitt):

Thursday, June 4:

Teen/Parent Yoga: Teens and parents can learn yoga postures at 6:30 p.m. at the Woodlawn branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Yoga mats provided. Free, but teens will need registration and written permission to attend. Call 410-887-1336.

Friday, June 5:

Cylburn's Nature Story Hour: Soak up the sun's rays while reading outside at the Cylburn's Nature Story Hour at the Howard P. Rawlings Conservatory at Druid Hill Park. 10-11:30am. Ages 3-6. Free. Call 410-396-6694 or visit cylburnassociation.org.

Sing, Say, Stomp and Play!: Sing and dance with Tracey Eldridge, a popular children's interactive performer in the Maryland/D.C. area at the Rosedale branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, 6105 Kenwood Ave. Baltimore. 10:30am. All ages -children under 6 w/ an adult. Free. No registration required. Call 410-887-0512 or visit bcpl.info for more information.

First Fridays 2009: Listen to the band, Spiral, as you enjoy food, drinks, and shopping at this block party outdoor celebration in downtown Bel Air. First Fridays 2009 will be held on Office Street, right by the courthouse in downtown Bel Air. 5-8pm. All ages. Free. For more information, visit downtownbelair.com or call 410-638-1023.

Saturday, June 6:

Superhero Night: Members of Louie's Kids Club can meet and take photos with their favorite super hero characters before the Bowie Baysox baseball game at Prince George's Stadium, 4101 Crain Highway in Bowie. Starts at 5 p.m. All ages. This event is only available to Louie's Kids Club members and tickets must be purchased for $10 in advance here. For information on the event or how to become a part of Louie's Kids Club, visit baysox.com.

Family Fun Night: Families can take a swim, enjoy a fitness class, and play a variety of games as part of the Y of Central Maryland's Family Fun Night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Druid Hill Y, 1609 Druid Hill Ave., and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Y, 900 E. 33rd St. All ages. Free. Call 410-728-1600, Druid Hill, or 410-889-9622, Weinberg, for more information, or visit ymaryland.org.

Sunday, June 7:

Dance, Dance, Dance!: The Towson University's Children Dance Division will be hold its annual spring concert at 2 p.m., with kids 3 to 18 performing a variety of styles of dance, including jazz, hip-hop, pointe, African and modern. At the Towson University Center for the Arts, located at the Center for the Arts Dance Studio Theatre 1003. All ages. $5; free for children 12 and under. Call 410-704-ARTS (2787).

Be Green at the BMA!: June is the month of "Going Green at the BMA." and today you can take a a tour called "The World Around Us," starting at 2 p.m. The BMA is located at 10 Art Museum Drive. All ages. Free. For more information, visit artbma.org or call 443-573-1700.

Ellen Montoya and her son, Adrian, 3, of Perry Hall read at the new Perry Hall library. Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun photographer.