Summer will be here before we know it and with Charlie going into 6th Grade I want to make sure he studies each day. I’ve been looking for books for Charlie to read during the Summer.
As I was picking out books Charlie reminded me of Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge we could join at the Libraries. I asked Charlie if he wanted to sign up and Charlie said he would like to.
Then Charlie asked me if I would sign up with him if they let Adults join the program. I told Charlie I would and the surprising part is David has decided to join these programs with us.
I would like to ask you to get on your mark, get set, READ! With a goal to keep academic skills sharp during the summer and encourage daily reading among the whole family, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (for his final year) will join Dallas families to kick off the 2019 Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge at the Festival of Books and Ideas on Saturday, June 1.
Open to all ages, the free 10-week program, which runs June 1-Aug. 10, encourages the whole family to read every day. Participants can enjoy fantastic prizes and more than 2,500 weekly STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities offered throughout the summer at neighborhood locations.
Registration is now underway at any of the 29 Dallas library locations or online at dallaslibrary.org/msrc.
While the Challenge officially begins June 1, people may register throughout the summer. In addition to the Festival of Books and Ideas (which is free and open to the public), special kickoff parties will take place at every library location on Saturday, June 1 (or throughout the week).
These include carnival games, space-themed parties, a 90’s party, fire truck show and tell, animal shows, STEAM activities, musical performers and more.
READY, SET, READ! DALLAS FAMILIES CAN SIGN UP NOW FOR The FREE MAYOR’S SUMMER READING CHALLENGE, TO EARN EXCITING PRIZES FOR PLEDGING AT LEAST 20 MINUTES OF DAILY READING
Open to kids and adults, the free 10-week challenge offers prizes for every 10 days of reading, grand prize drawings and weekly STEAM programming; registration open all summer
Participants who sign up by June 1 will be entered in a drawing for four tickets to see Aladdin at the Music Hall at Fair Park. I would like to win these tickets.
Young Challenge members can earn incentive prizes – including books plus coupons and passes to local attractions – for every 10 days they read at least 20 minutes.
Adults will be entered into prize drawings for every 10 days of 20-minute reading they log. Reading can be reported to any Dallas Public Library or online at dallaslibrary.org/msrc.
See details and rules below. Kids who read at least 50 days by Aug. 10 will be entered to win grand prizes including special experiences such as behind-the-scenes access to the lemur exhibit at the Dallas Zoo and Dallas Stars tickets with a post-game meet-and-greet with the team.
Mayor Rawlings stresses that year-round reading reduces summer learning loss, keeps academic skills strong, inspires curiosity, enhances comprehension and vocabulary, and helps establish a foundation for young people to become lifelong readers and learners.
“As Dallas mayor for the last eight years, I’m delighted to see how the Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge has inspired thousands of families to carve out time to read and make it a favorite pastime,” said Mayor Rawlings.
“Children suffer quite a bit of learning loss during the summer months, but just 20 minutes of daily reading can counter those effects while increasing literacy and a lifelong love for learning. I look forward to seeing the program’s continued growth as I pass the torch to the new Dallas mayor.”
Mayor Rawlings thanks the sponsors and community partners who have generously supported the Challenge over the years. Planning to attend June 1 are Dallas Stars’ mascot Victor E. Green, Dallas Mavericks’ mascots Mavs Man and Champ, and SMU’s mascot Peruna.
Once again, the Challenge is partnering with companies and organizations to conduct new book drives either onsite at their locations or via online book drives where people can make monetary donations.
FULL STEAM AHEAD. Thanks to the Friends of the Dallas Public Library, more than 2,500 weekly STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities will take place at all 29 Dallas library locations throughout the summer.
Family-fun will involve racetrack building, family puzzle rooms, basket weaving, rocket launching, circuits and electricity, constellations, color science and more, plus special performers, visits by unusual animals and insects, and musical shows.
Interactive programs will be presented by partner organizations such as the Dallas Children’s Theater, Dallas Museum of Art, and Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
READING CHALLENGE RULES AND PRIZES. Children up to 18 years of age can earn incentive prizes by reading at least 20 minutes a day. Readers can log each day they read online at dallaslibrary.org/msrc or at any Dallas Public Library location. Books, e-books, audiobooks, newspapers and magazines all count towards reading, but video games and websites do not.
Once 10 days of 20-minute reading have been logged, young participants may visit their nearest library to pick up a free book of their choice PLUS a pass or coupon to some of the area’s top attractions and eateries including the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Dallas Zoo, Dallas Children’s Theater, SMU, Nasher Sculpture Center, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Pizza Hut, SusieCakes and more.
For every 10 days of 20-minute reading, they can visit their library for more free books and prizes – with giveaways awarded at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 days of reading.
Adults will be entered into weekly and grand prize drawings for every 10 days of 20-minute reading they log. Every title/10 days logged counts toward an entry in the adult weekly prize drawings along with grand-prize drawings at week 5 and week 10.
For adults, the grand prizes include hotel stays, creative arts workshops, theater and dance performance tickets plus gift certificates to restaurants, hair salons and comedy clubs.
Other grand prizes include passes and gift certificates to area attractions and restaurants including Al Biernat’s Restaurant; Alley Cats; Artisan Center Theater; Bahama Beach; Bibbentuckers; Billy Bob’s Texas; Blue Mesa Grill; Celebration Restaurant, Market and Catering; Chuy’s; Crayola Experience; Creative Arts Center of Dallas; Dallas Children’s Theater; Dallas Opera; Dallas Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center; Disco Kids Dallas; Fogo de Chao; Frontiers of Flight Museum; Galleria Ice Skating Center; Hilton Anatole Hotel; Hyatt Regency Dallas; III Forks; James Avery Jewelry; Jumpstreet; Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie; LOOK Cinemas; Magic Time Machine; Nate’s Seafood & Steakhouse; North Texas Performing Arts; Omni Dallas Hotel; Omni Dallas Hotel Park West; Pinots Palette; Reunion Tower – Geo Deck; River Ranch –Texas Horse Park; Sevy’s Grill; Six Flags; Speed Zone; State Fair of Texas; Strikz Entertainment; Studio Movie Grill; The Westin Galleria; Top Golf Dallas; Trinity Forest Adventure Park; and Uchi.For 46 years, the Dallas Public Library’s summer reading program has encouraged nearly 330,000 children to read. The Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge is a collaborative effort between the City of Dallas Mayor’s Office, Dallas Public Library, Dallas ISD and dozens of community sponsors and donors.
Sponsors and partners include Cigna, Dallas Mavericks, Friends of the Dallas Public Library, Hilltop Securities and SMU.Donors are Carol and Steve Aaron; Judy and Phillip Askew; The Baldridge Foundation; Billingsley Company; Barbara and Randal Brown; Columbus Realty Partners Ltd.; David Deniger and Mara Batlin; Tony Dieste; Fluor Corporation; Shannon and Steve Folsom; HALL Group; Cindy and Art Harding; The Hegi Family; Lyda Hill; JLL; JQ Engineering; KDC Real Estate; Herb Kelleher; Alan and Sarah Losinger; Lottye and Bobby Lyle; Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Inc.; Erle A. Nye; Howard Rachofsky; Edward W. Rose, III Family Fund; Joy and Ronald Mankoff; Mike A. Myers; Pack Automotive Group; Aileen and Jack Pratt Foundation; The Perot Foundation; Riggs Family Foundation; The Stanford C. and Mary Claire Finney Foundation; and Kirk Wilson.Media partners are Fox 4 and Fox 4 More, Univision 23 and UniMas 49, 106.1 KISS FM, 102.9 NOW, K104, Smooth R&B 105.7, Qué Buena 94.1 FM, Latino Mix 107.9/107.1 FM,and Greensheet Media.
To sign up or learn more, go to dallaslibrary.org/msrc or call 214-670-1671.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
