Registration is open now for the La Grange Public Library's free summer reading challenge, a program that lands during what will be an unusually long break for District 102 students this year.
The program, called "Plant a Seed, Read," runs June 1 through August 1 and is open to all ages. Participants who log 900 minutes of reading — about 15 minutes a day — complete the challenge and earn a grand prize drawing ticket. A midpoint prize kicks once readers hit 450 minutes and the very first prizes will be given starting June 9.
The timing matters. District 102 extended its summer to at least 12 weeks, according to the district's finalized calendar, due to major RenewD102 construction at Forest Road, Barnsdale, Cossitt, and Park Junior High campuses. School won't resume until September 2.
The library set a community goal of 500,000 minutes read collectively by August 1. Hit it, and the library will plant a tree in La Grange. The community met its goal last summer, according to the program's FAQ materials.
Families can register and track progress through the free Beanstack app, which includes a built-in timer and where families can log their reading together. Paper tracking forms are also available at the library in English, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
Beyond the base challenge, participants can earn a second drawing ticket by completing four "Dig Deeper" side activities. All reading formats count: print books, eBooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, magazines, and newspapers.
Registration is live at lagrangelibrary.beanstack.com. The library is at 10 W. Cossitt Ave., La Grange; call 708-215-3200 with questions. The challenge begins June 1.
