Newton Students Reach Mayor Warren's Summer Reading Goal

Newton, MA – Mayor Setti Warren announced on Twitter today that students have met his summer reading challenge goal of 10,000 hours.

And there's still plenty of summer to go.

The mayor kicked off his challenge, "On Your Mark, Get Set...Read!," at City Hall on June 22. The initiative invites kids in preschool through grade 6 to enter their time spent reading into an online log.

Last year, 1,374 kids participated in the program and logged 17,364 hours, far surpassing the mayor's goal of 10,000.

This summer, kids in Newton are back with a vengeance, and on pace to shatter last year's number if their early attainment of 10,000 hours is any indication.

According to a post on the city's website, kids who log at least one hour of reading will be entered into a raffle to win one of three gift certificates to local bookstores, and the reader who logs the most hours will win a Kindle Fire.

The mayor also asks participants to mail him a postcard describing what books they're reading; these descriptions can either be written or drawn.

Postcards may be picked up from the library or custom-made and mailed to the mayor or dropped off at the Newton Free Library. The library will display these cards for people to pick up some great book suggestions.

>>>Visit the summer reading website for more information on the challenge.