Westfield Library offers two reading challenges to Kids and Teens

(January 12, 2022) The Westfield Memorial Library invites teens to challenge themselves and broaden their horizons by reading books from four different categories. Participants who read one book from each of the four categories that satisfy the challenge will win a free book.

The categories include one book that: takes place in a real country other than the United States (fiction or nonfiction) or that is translated from a foreign language; takes place in a world created by the author, or is fantasy, speculative fiction, or science fiction; features a protagonist from an underrepresented group or provides information about a group that has been disenfranchised (fiction or nonfiction); or is a work of historical fiction.

Readers will find lists of recommended books from the above categories on Read Squared.com, which is where they register for the library’s challenge and track their reading. They may also substitute books of their own choosing that meet the criteria.

This online reading challenge will run through May 30. Visit https://wmlnj.org/teens-read-w...

The Library also has a reading challenge for the parents of children not yet in school. The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program helps parents reach a goal of reading one thousand books to their baby, toddler, or child before they enter Kindergarten.

The purpose of this self-paced program is to make reading a fun activity that engages babies and children with their caregivers. A happy relationship with books is the first step towards reading as a habit, which many experts agree is the best predictor of academic success in nearly every measurable category.

Parents/caregivers can easily track their progress by using READsquared, available as a convenient app, or on their computer at http://wmlnj.READsquared.com/. Read more here.

For any questions or help signing up, please contact the Youth Services department at youthservices@wmlnj.org or 908-789-4090 ext. 4114