NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle Public Library’s 2021 Summer Reading Challenges for children and teens kick off on Tuesday, July 6. The theme of this year’s challenges is “Tails and Tales.”
Tails & Tales: Kids is designed for children age 0 to 12 to encourage life-long reading habits. Participants earn points by reading and listening to books, writing book reviews, attending programs and completing activities. The more points a child earns, the more badges and prizes they will receive. Once a participant reaches 100 points, they will have completed the game and will become a Certified Summer Reader.
From July 6 – August 20, a full slate of free programs for preschool and elementary school students will be offered in the children’s garden at the Main Library, 1 Library Plaza, and on the patio at the Huguenot Children’s Library, 794 North Avenue. Children will enjoy animal-themed story times, art projects, music and movement, yoga fun with Budding Buddhas, building animal habitats with ArchforKids, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities and animal meet and greets led by educators from the Stamford Museum & Nature Center.
Space is limited and registration is required. For details and registration, visit nrpl.evanced.info/signup/calendar or call 914-813-3716 (Main Library) or 914-632-8954 (Huguenot Children’s Library.)
Tails & Tales: Teens encourages tweens and teens in grades 6-12 to stay engaged by reading books and completing missions throughout the summer. Participants are invited to learn from the pros by joining together at the main library to watch a variety of MasterClass videos. Authors including Margaret Atwood, James Patterson and R.L.Stine will teach viewers the art of writing, while Olympic athletes including Simone Biles, Serena Williams and Tony Hawk will teach the fundamentals of their sport.
On Monday, July 19, 10:00 am, teens are invited to a discussion, “Healthy Relationships: A Talk for Teens”. Participants will learn how to examine relationships and identify behaviors that are controlling, damaging, as well as healthy. Video game tournaments are scheduled for Thursdays, July 29 and August 19, 3:00 – 8:00pm. Weekly events will continue throughout the summer on the following days, beginning at 3:00 pm: Tuesdays, Twitch Stream Game Night; Wednesdays, Painting with Bob Ross; Thursdays, Teen Movie Night. All teen programs take place at the Main Library. Space is limited. Registration recommended. For details and registration, visit nrpl.evanced.info/signup/calendar.
Visit nrplny12.readsquared.com to register for the Tails & Tales Kids and Teens Summer 2021 Reading Challenges.
Adults can also join in the fun by participating in a grown-up version of the Summer Reading Challenge. The Library’s Summer Book Bingo encourages adult readers, ages 16 and older, to explore new genres and titles. Cards can be downloaded at nrpl.org/adults/srg, or picked up at the Main Library. As participants read throughout the summer, they fill in the squares on the card which include categories such as “International Mystery”, “Fiction by an African American Author”, or “If You Loved the Bridgertons.” Our librarians have compiled suggestion lists to help readers find titles in each category. Once a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line is completed, the card can be submitted for a drawing of many prizes including newly-released books, literary-themed gifts, local restaurant gift cards — and more. Or, participants can keep reading to complete all 25 squares, and submit the card for a grand prize.
Cards may be submitted in person, by mail, or scanned and emailed to communityrelations@nrpl.org, or by posting a picture of the card on Instagram (@n.r.p.l), Twitter (@nrplibrary), or the library’s Facebook page (facebook.com/NRPublicLibrary), by September 7, 2021.
For more information, visit nrpl.org.