Event information
What: “Tails & Tales” summer reading challenge
When: Challenge runs from June 1 to August 15
Register online at www.tinyurl.com/gcplread
Grand County Public Library launched their Tails & Tales summer challenge on Tuesday, a prize-filled program designed to get Moab’s families reading in the summer sunshine. Using their summer challenge app or the library’s website, readers can log their minutes they spend reading (or being read to) and earn prizes and badges. The challenge will end on August 15.
With the theme being Tails & Tales, many of the challenge’s activities and rewards celebrate the animal world. The fun isn’t limited to those in schools, either. There are four challenges, one for each age group: a group for children from birth to pre-Kindergarten age, one for children, and separate challenges for teens and adults.
Those who log their reading minutes this summer will also be helping the Grand County Public Library towards its Paws to Read Community Wide Reading Goal. The motivations for the reading goal are twofold: to boost youth reading schools during the summer so that they are prepared for the next school year, and to help the Humane Society of Moab Valley expand their pet health and safety programs. When the community reaches 500,000 minutes of reading, Dominion Energy will donate $1,000 to HSMV.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant from Dominion Energy,” said HSMV Executive Director Leigh Ryan. “The monies from this grant will be used for our education program to both educate adults and children about the importance of pet health and safety.”
The library is also inviting all summer challenge participants to send in photographs and artwork of their pets, farm animals or wildlife to create a virtual photo album. The library will post the album online at the end of the summer challenge.
“Children of all ages benefit greatly from being read aloud to. In fact, reading aloud to a child is the single best thing a caregiver can do to prepare young ones to be life-long learners and instill in them a love of reading,” stated the library in a press release. “With school soon out for the summer, the Children and Teen Summer Challenges are the perfect way to keep kids engaged in reading, rewarding them with fun incentives as they go.”
Every reader who registers for Tails & Tales will receive a coupon for a free donut from The Donut Shop, while supplies last. Prize drawings at the end of the summer for children under the age of 12 include animal-themed toys, games and books. Moab Giants has donated a one-day Family Discovery pass and the Canyon Country Discovery Center in Monticello is awarding an Annual Household Membership and five family day passes in the children’s competition. Teens and adults can win Kindle Fires and local gift certificates.
Ready to accept the Tails & Tales Challenge? Visit www.tinyurl.com/gcplread or call the library at (435) 259-1111.
