This year’s Summer Reading theme “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” could not have been planned for a better year. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games are gearing up and will start 
in August! There are more than 40 games during the Summer Olympics. Many of the games – such as rugby, water polo, and Taekwondo – originated in other countries. In the spirit of this year’s Summer Reading theme and the Olympics, here are some world games to teach and play with your child.
With an unknown origin, Mancala can be traced back to ancient Egypt. Mancala is a two-player strategy game where the goal is to capture the most pieces in your own storage area. A homemade Mancala board is very easy to make with simple household items! Click here to learn how to make your own board and the rules of the game.
Looking for a multiple player game? Pilolo is a popular game from Ghana that is a hiding and seeking game. Pilolo means “time to search.” To play, create a designated home base. A home base can be a hula hoop or a square on the floor made with tape. One player hides several pennies in designated areas while the other players have their backs turned. After the pennies are hidden, the player shouts “Piolo!” and the other players begin to search. The first player to find a penny and make it back to home base is the winner. The winner now becomes the hider.
These games and more can be found in our Summer Reading for Groups booklet. Click here for more books in our catalog.
