Children between the ages of 3 and 8 have been building a model town at the Panther Valley Library in Lansford over the past four weeks as part of the summer reading program's project.

This year the program's theme is "Build a Better World." Members of the program have been learning about things like transportation and technology this summer as they slowly build their model and other projects.About 50 children are participating in this year's program at the library. Each session of the group starts with a book reading followed by an activity.On Wednesday, during the fourth week of the six-week program, Marlene Basiago read "Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride" by Marjorie Priceman, a children's book about the Montgolfier hot air balloon flight in Annonay, France in 1783.After being read the book, the children learned how to make hot air balloon cars using cardboard, straws, balloons and bottle caps. The children then tested and raced their contraptions.After their activity the kids get to spend the last part of the session working on their town, adding more crafts and creations to the project each week.Those ages 3 through 5 are given smaller projects than those ages 6 through 8, but every child helps contribute to the model town, which has yet to be named. Each child has a plot of land in the town and has the opportunity to customize their paper houses and buildings on their property, as well as add shrubs, people, furniture and other elements to their plot.Group supervisor Dawn Neyer says that in years past themes included "Every Hero has a Story," where children learned about doctors, soldier, superheroes and animals, as well as "On Your Mark, Get Set, Read," which focused on physical activity. During those programs children got to take part in activities like building robots out of household items and re-enact the Alaskan Iditarod Race.Neyer says that the town building project helps teach the children teamwork and cooperation. Children are put into groups often and must work together to build more buildings or decide upon how to decorate things. Neyer also says it teaches them how to divide work among a group.In the coming weeks the group members will hold a mock election to choose a mayor, police chief, counselor and other positions.The children will also get to name the town and the streets in it. A brainstorming session this week yielded ideas like "Plantville," "Lansford" and "New Jersey."