Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Summer Reading Challenge starts Monday. Here’s how you can win prizes by reading

VIRGINIA BEACH — The public library’s annual Summer Reading Challenge for children, teens and adults kicks off June 11.

The eight-week program encourages reading for pleasure during summer by setting goals for each age group and offering incentives and prizes for achieving them, according toa  news release from the city. Participants may read books, comic books, magazines, newspapers — whatever they like — in print or digital formats. Audiobooks count, too.

Virginia Beach Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge is funded by more than $84,000 in grants from the Friends of Virginia Beach Public Library and the Virginia Beach Library Foundation, with additional donations and prizes provided by a variety of local businesses and organizations.

“The Summer Reading Challenge is for all ages and is especially designed to keep children and teens reading and engaged in fun learning activities,” said Katie Cerqua, youth and family services manager for Virginia Beach Public Library. “Children who read and participate in programs during summer are more likely to retain the skills they learned during the school year and avoid the learning loss known as ‘summer slide.”’

Prizes and incentives

During the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge, children earn age-appropriate prizes for five, 10, 20, 40 and 50-book milestones.

New this year, children (up to 12 years old) who read 20 minutes a day for at least five days each week will earn a ticket to VBPL’s  Super Reader Celebration at the Virginia Aquarium on  Thursday, Aug. 9.

Teens who read at least three books earn a $12 Barnes & Noble gift card and a chance to win exciting raffle prizes for reading more and participating in a variety of activities. Adults who track 20 hours of reading win a tote bag and coupon to the Friends Book Shop, with chances to win raffle prizes by logging even more reading.  To register for the Summer Reading Challenge visit here.

Free family fun

Virginia Beach Public Library offers a variety of fun, free educational programs for all ages year-round and especially during summer, with nearly 170 programs in June alone.

Highlights this year include visits with costumed storybook character Biscuit the puppy at nine branches from June 16 to June 23; barnyard parties with Teeny Tiny Farm’s live, miniature animals at six branches, June 16 to 23; and magic by John Kingry at six branches, June 20 to Aug. 2. Find details on these programs and more here.

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