TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Library is gearing up for its annual Summer Reading Challenge, inviting children to “Color Our World” from June 7 to August 30. The program aims to encourage reading and prevent learning loss during the summer break.
Children can participate by reading for 10 hours and tracking their progress on the Beanstack app or a printable game board, which can be downloaded in English or Spanish or picked up at any of the library’s 18 open branches starting June 7. Upon completion, they will receive a prize and be eligible to win a grand prize, such as a tie-dye kit, a Squishmallow, or a family membership to the National Aquarium.
The library will kick off the summer reading program with a festival at the Perry Hall Branch (9685 Honeygo Boulevard) on Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature performances, crafts, and face painting.
“When a child reads, their world becomes more vibrant,” said Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, CEO of Baltimore County Public Library. “Our Summer Reading Challenge is all about having fun, but it also plays a vital role in helping children continue to learn throughout the summer and not fall into the summer slide.”
In addition to the reading challenge, 16 library branches will offer free lunches for children aged 18 and under from June 23 to August 15, provided by Baltimore County Public Schools and the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Meals are available Monday through Friday and must be eaten in the branch. The lunch program cannot accommodate groups like camps and childcare centers.
Noon: Arbutus, Lansdowne, North Point, Owings Mills, Pikesville, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Rosedale and Sollers Point branches
12:30 p.m.: Catonsville, Cockeysville, Essex, Loch Raven, Parkville-Carney, Perry Hall, and Woodlawn branches
The Summer Reading Challenge is sponsored by the Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library, Rosedale Federal, APGFCU, and Peake Federal Credit Union.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
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