Syracuse Sun

As the school year concludes and students begin their summer break, the annual New York State Assembly Summer Reading Challenge for children of the 120th Assembly District is set to commence. The initiative aims to encourage students to maintain their academic progress and challenge themselves through summer reading.

Last year's challenge saw participation from 90 students. Organizers hope to see an increase in participants this year. Children who commit to reading at least 15 minutes a day for 40 days will receive a New York State Assembly Excellence in Reading certificate.

"Reading during the summer months has many benefits, one of the most important being it keeps our minds sharp and strong," said a representative. "Exercising our minds allows us to think critically and creatively. Plus, reading is fun! It transports us to different worlds through a variety of genres."

The representative also emphasized that reading helps individuals learn about the past and discover new things daily.

Participants are encouraged to start their reading adventures at local public libraries. The New York State Library website provides information about local libraries, including various programs and activities. In Oswego County, the Oswego Bookmobile will offer resources for young readers from July 1 through August 16. A full schedule is available on its website.

Local libraries are also hosting reading challenges that can be combined with the Assembly's challenge. More information on these can be found at https://www.ncls.org/find-your-library/ or https://catalog.flls.org/polaris/default.aspx.

"Taking a few minutes each day to read is a great way to learn and explore topics of interest," added the representative. "Reading is not just about flipping pages; it’s about unlocking new worlds and increasing your knowledge."

Children are encouraged to embark on new adventures through reading this summer.

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