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The challenge involves bingo cards, with participants marking off boxes as go, and is open to all customers of Reasonable Books. Each square on the card is a book genre, such as a coming-of-age story, a book adapted to a movie, or a Pulitzer Prize winner. Some squares can prove difficult, like a book set in a city that hosted the Olympics.
When a reader gets a bingo, they can come into the store and receive a prize. "Once they fill it out they bring it in and get their name entered for a prize. We're hoping to have weekly drawings," said Betty Winnacker, who added later that they might "let readers pick from what is available and see how it goes, because everyone will be different."
According to Winnacker, there is a large variety of prizes, adding to the fun of the challenge: "The prizes will include a free puzzle, a gift certificate, a book, one of the puppets, we have some local area attractions like free passes to the Oakland Museum, [and] train tickets to the Tilden Railroad."
Granted, the reading challenge at Reasonable Books is among one of the most difficult in our area: "Nobody has finished a row of their card yet, not even my daughter or myself," Winnacker said.
For some, the annual Contra Costa County Library summer reading challenge might be a bit easier. Each year, Contra Costa County libraries have reading passports open to children of ages 5 to 18. The reading passports track how many books have been read in a given summer, along with how many hours have been spent reading them.
This year, the Contra Costa County Library summer reading challenge is called "Reading Colors Your World" and it is open to all ages. It began June first and can be completed both online on the site Beanstack and with the physical reading passports that can be picked up at the library. "Everyone who completes Summer Reading will win prizes, including a free book, and be entered into a drawing for a chance to win amazing prizes."
The prizes for both reading challenges are tailored specifically to what readers may enjoy receiving: "We're trying to keep them reading related," said Winnacker.
Of course reading can be done everywhere, but special news is that what with the new COVID regulations, Reasonable Books will now have seating and reading areas for customers to come inside and read their books: "We are excited that the restrictions have loosened up so that we can have more people in the store and we're looking forward to having people come in, browse, [and] read."
Readers are also welcome back to the libraries: "The libraries will be open with limited occupancy. The whole family can have a fun and colorful summer together."
For information about Reasonable Books, visit https://reasonable.online/
For information about Contra Costa County Libraries, visit ccclib.org
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA