2023 Winter Reading Challenge

    Yakima Valley Libraries is pleased to invite adult patrons to join our annual Winter Reading Challenge. It’s easy to play, and a ton of fun!

    From January 1st through March 31st, grab a bingo game card, read, mark off the categories to complete a bingo or a blackout, and get entered to win fun prizes. Plus, everyone who returns a completed game card (i.e., one or more bingos) will earn a Winter Reading Challenge pin! (Limit one per person).


    HOW TO PLAY

    1. Visit your community library and request a bingo card OR go to ‘Printable Game Cards,’ below, to print your card(s) at home. 
    2. Read, read, read! … and work toward a BINGO or black out by filling in book titles on your game card.   
    3. To be entered into the Winter Reading Challenge raffle, return your completed game card to your local library OR submit your game card online by Friday, March 31, 2023. Please see complete raffle entry instructions below.

    THE FINE PRINT: You are on your honor to read books before adding them to your Winter Reading Challenge bingo card. Cheating, skimming, or just reading reviews online will invoke bad winter karma which may include sniffles, lack of marshmallows in your hot chocolate, or losing your mittens.

    You may submit your Winter Reading Challenge raffle entry form online or in-person at any community library.

    To be eligible to enter the raffle, you must have completed at least one BINGO on a 2023 Winter Reading Challenge game card.


    Entry Option #1: ONLINE RAFFLE ENTRY 

      1. Write your name across the top of your game card
      2. Take a clear photo of your game card, ensuring that your name is visible
      3. Click here to complete the online raffle entry form (Note: you’ll be asked to upload a photo of your game card)
      4. Submit the form along with your image file, and you’re done!

    Entry Option #2: IN-PERSON RAFFLE ENTRY

      1. Bring your game card to your community library during open hours and request a raffle entry form from staff.
      2. Fill out the raffle entry form, then place it AND your game card into the designated location, as directed by staff.

    THIS SOUNDS GREAT! HOW DO I PLAY?

    1. Visit your community library and request a bingo card OR print a Bingo card from the YVL website.
    2. Read! And work toward a BINGO or black out by filling in book titles on your card.
    3. Return your completed game card to your local library OR submit your game card online by Friday, March 31, 2023, and complete a raffle entry form for a chance to win one of several prizes.

    DO I HAVE TO READ PRINT BOOKS?

    Nope! You’re encouraged to enjoy all book formats, including books on CD, ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, etc.


    DO I HAVE TO READ LIBRARY BOOKS?

    Obviously, we love it when you check out books from your local community library, but books you own, borrow from a friend, or buy, all definitely count!


    WHAT IF I NEED IDEAS ABOUT WHAT TO READ?

    If you’re stumped or would like book suggestions for some of the Bingo squares, you can ask library staff, check out NoveList Plus, or use one of YVL’s online book lists, some of which were specifically created for this program.


    MY CHILD(REN) WOULD LOVE THIS! CAN THEY PLAY, TOO?

    Sorry, no. This program is limited to adults 18 and older; however, we invite children and teens to participate in our annual summer reading program, which begins in June.


    I READ A BOOK THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO MULTIPLE SPACES ON MY BINGO CARD. CAN I DO THAT?

    Again, no—you can only use each title once.


    WHAT IF I STARTED A BOOK IN 2022, BUT FINISHED IT AFTER THE NEW YEAR, AND/OR BEFORE I GOT MY BINGO CARD?

    If it fits one of the categories, feel free to use it! As long as you were still reading the book at the start of 2023, it counts.


    YOU MENTIONED PRIZES. TELL ME MORE…

    If you complete and return your game board by Friday, March 31, 2023, you can enter your name in a drawing for one of several prizes – you choose which prize jar you would like your entry to go in.

    For each BINGO you complete, you will also automatically be entered in a drawing for one of our grand prizes.  (See ‘PRIZES’ section below for a full list of prizes.)


    HOW ARE BINGOs COUNTED?

    • A completed bingo card can have up to five BINGOs – at which point you also have a blackout, meaning all the squares have been filled in.
    • Each filled-in square/title can only be counted once.
    • A card with a single bingo gives you one entry. A card with two bingos gives you two entries and so on.
    • A card with a blackout gives you five entries – and they don’t all have to go into the same drawing.

    WHEN WILL WINNERS BE ANNOUNCED?

    We’ll draw names in April and will contact winners by phone or email.

    We will make multiple attempts to contact winners, if needed.

    However, if your name is drawn and we haven’t heard back from you within seven (7) days from when we first tried to contact you, we will draw another name.

    Limit: One prize per person.

     

    Complete at least one Bingo and return your game card by Friday, March 31, 2023, to be entered to win one of several prizes!

    For each BINGO you complete, you will also automatically be entered in a drawing for one of our grand prizes — so the more you read, the more chances you have to win. 


    “PICK-YOUR-PRIZE” OPTIONS

    • $20 Amazon gift card – 5 winners
    • $20 Starbucks gift card – 5 winners
    • $20 Inklings Bookshop gift card – 5 winners

    GRAND PRIZES

    For every BINGO you complete, you’ll also earn an entry into the raffle for one of these Grand Prizes:

    • $50 Inklings Bookshop gift card
    • Two (2) adult admission tickets to the Central Washington State Fair
    • Two (2) adult tickets for the Little Hopper, a craft beer and wine tasting tour, with stops throughout the Yakima Valley (Must be 21+ years old to redeem)

    Prizes made possible through the generous support of the Yakima Valley Libraries Foundation. Thank you!

    Need some help deciding what to read for one of the Book Bingo categories? Try one of these book lists, which were specially curated for the 2023 Winter Reading Challenge!

    Even if you can’t make it into a library, you can still play book bingo with us!

    Just print a Winter Reading Challenge game card, read toward your bingo(s), and make sure to return the game card to your nearest community library (OR enter online) by Friday, March 31, 2023 to be eligible for the prize raffle.

    Click to print your game card(s):

     

    Search

    English