Abe from the Washington Nationals famed President’s racing team, holds up two of his favorite summer reading choices.
The Arlington Public Library Summer Reading Challenge began at the library branches on Saturday, June 6.
Although most of the kids did say they were there because of something to do with reading, honestly the attractions were Abe from the Washington Nationals and the “Plant A Seed, Read” activity. Plant a Seed was a chocolate pudding cup representing dirt topped with gummy worms present in any rich garden soil.
Roun Erikson and Reese Tsang are lined up to get their pudding cups. Erikson says she has already started reading. Louise Sfregola stands nearby. She already has a library card.
It is a hot, muggy day, and the teenage volunteers at the Plant A Seed table are fanning themselves in between dishing out gummy worms. Jordan Ebikwi, a graduating Yorktown High School senior, is volunteering as part of his three week senior experience at the library. “I just thought it would be a fun place to have my internship.”
Meanwhile mascot Abe, a member of the famed Nats President’s racing team, is circling the area outside the library fanning the volunteers and anyone else who looks like they could use it.
The way the reading challenge works is that a person reads for 30 days during the time between June 1-Sept. 1. There is no minimum or maximum that you are required to read on any day, and the days don’t have to be sequential. Just mark reading activity on a calendar and after reading for 30 days, fill out a form which you can find either online or which you pick up from the library. Bring it to any library location.
Your prizes for completion of the reading challenge are a free book, two free Washington Nationals baseball tickets and a $1 donation to help support the partnership with Friends of Arlington Public Library.
For those super achievers or those who may just like to read there is also an incentive to read an extra 30 days and achieve the status of a Super Reader. This allows you to receive a plantable flower or herb pot, a Super Reader certificate and to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card or free tickets from the Washington Mystics or Washington Spirit.
The library brochure explains, “Summer reading helps kids and teens avoid the educational ‘summer slide.’ It gives parents, caregivers and kids an extra incentive to read or listen to books together.”
Teenage volunteers man the Plant a Seed table. Jordan Ebikwi, (right) is volunteering as part of his library senior experience at Yorktown High School.