MOCO Summer Reading Challenge To Kick Off At Public Libraries

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Young bookworms can participate in a summer reading challenge for a chance to win prizes and and help the environment through the Montgomery County public library system.

There are challenges for each age, including recommended activities and books for early learners and young children, as well as reading recommended books, attending library programs and writing book reviews for older readers.

"MCPL’s Summer Reading Challenge! offers children and teens a chance to fill their summer with great books and fun learning activities, as well as in-person and virtual events," the news release says. " This year, MCPL and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are greening up Summer Reading by keeping plastic out of the waste stream. As children read and complete missions, MCPL will help plant trees, restore oyster beds, and improve animal habitats throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed."

There are reading listing for babies, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, each grade in elementary school and general lists for middle school and high school.

“In terms of the summer reading, we get asked about it a lot here at the library,” Sean Riley, head of service for the Noyes Library for Young Children, told WTOP. “It’s the sort of thing that kids and parents wait for all year ’round, because it’s always so exciting. It’s always so exciting to be able to read a new book and get something out of it — not only something out of the actual reading [of] the book, but get an incentive for doing the reading.”

There will be a kick-off event at the Rockville Memorial Library June 18, which will include:

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation hands-on educational table
• Strolling magician Abracadabra Alex
• Summer Reading Challenge! signups and book giveaways
• Craft tables

Kids can sign up online or at any of the library branches, the news release said.