Batter up!
Summer is the perfect time for baseball and books – and it’s easy to enjoy both, thanks to Montgomery County Public Libraries’ 2023 Summer Reading Challenge! The Washington Nationals have teamed up with MCPL for the fourth consecutive year to make sure books and baseball can be part of every child’s summer fun. In the spirit of this year’s theme, All Together Now, children and teens are reading and completing activities to spread kindness throughout our community while also earning incentives.
Here’s how it works:
When kids sign up, they can select a free book to add to their personal collection, while supplies last. Sign-ups continue throughout the summer, so there’s still time to join in the fun. Children earn e-badges each time they read 4 books and/or complete four activities and log them online.
In recognition of participants achieving their Animal All-Star e-badges, Friends of the Library Montgomery County, MD (FOLMC) is collaborating with Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center and Friends of Montgomery County Animals to help find forever homes for “hidden gem” pets.
Readers are eager to celebrate opening day of the Kindness Rock Star e-badge on July 10. The Washington Nationals are recognizing teens and children who complete this midpoint by awarding vouchers for two Nationals baseball tickets, while supplies last. To further honor this achievement, the FOLMC will contribute to Manna Food Center to provide over 800 meals to approximately 300 families. Besides enjoying a professional ball game with their families, children are excited to learn they are helping to feed families throughout Montgomery County.
One child declared, “I’ll definitely finish challenge two because I love baseball, but also I don’t want people to be hungry.”
Each Nationals voucher may be redeemed for two (2) tickets to one regular season home game in select areas of Nationals Park. Participants can pick up their voucher beginning July 10 at their local MCPL library, and redeem it by visiting the Nationals’ Summer Reading website. Participants can choose a game date from a list of options, then choose their seats. Vouchers must be redeemed by September 6, 2023.
In addition to the voucher program, Montgomery County Public Libraries and the Washington Nationals are helping to spread the word about each other’s summer reading programs through social media, printed literature including bus placards, and in the Nationals’ case, scoreboard advertisements.
To wrap up the summer, children can earn their Planeteer e-badges beginning August 7. In recognition of this e-badge, the FOLMC will contribute to Montgomery Parks Foundation, which will install 460 solar panels to power local parks with clean, green energy. FOLMC will also celebrate every child and teen by awarding them a coupon for a free book from one of two FOLMC bookstore locations.
So, step up to the plate, read some amazing books, head to Nationals Park to watch some exciting baseball, and spread kindness throughout our community by participating in the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge!
Check out our summer schedule of events!