Summer Reading

Children from Pre-K to 5th grade: Read at least 20 minutes a day for 20 days, and earn rewards for every 5 days of reading you complete. (Up to 20 days, total).

Note: Due to ongoing building closures, reading rewards will NOT be distributed during the summer months. Please check back here after August 15th, for information about how and where to collect reading rewards.

There are TWO options for participation this summer:

Option 1: Complete the registration form (below) in order to PRINT a reading log for your child(ren) to use at home.

Option 2: 

Sign up and track your progress with the Reader Zone app, downloadable through Google Play, iTunes, and Amazon

To get started:

• Download the ReaderZone app 
• Create an account, then join the Yakima Valley Libraries Summer Reading Program using our program code: 2cd68
• Select Group Name: Pre-K thru 5th Grade

How it Works:

For the K-5^th grade program, you’ll be tracking total minutes read in increments of 20 minutes per day. Each day that you read, or are read to, for 20 minutes, log your time in the app.

Remember: You can read more than 20 minutes each day, but only the first 20 minutes counts toward your daily reading goal!

Earn reading rewards and badges as you work your way toward the goal of reading a total of 400 minutes by August 15th.

PLUS, everyone who completes the program (and logs at least 400 total minutes of reading) will be entered into a raffle at the end of summer.

• Participants who are entering 6th – 12th grade: Track the books you read this summer and be entered to win one of more than 40 raffle prizes after you complete a total of 8 reading challenges (or books)
• Plus, if you reach the halfway point, by reading at least 4 books (or completing 4 reading challenges) you’ll earn a cool reading reward!

Note: Due to ongoing building closures, reading rewards will NOT be distributed during the summer months. Please check back here after August 15th, for information about how and where to collect your reading rewards.

There are TWO options for participation this summer:

Option 1: Complete the registration form (below) in order to PRINT a reading log to use at home.

Option 2: Sign up and track your progress with the Reader Zone app, downloadable through Google Play, iTunes, and Amazon

To get started:

• Download the ReaderZone app 
• Create an account, then join the Yakima Valley Libraries Summer Reading Program using our program code: 2cd68
• Select the Group Name: 6^th-12^th Grade
  

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How it Works:

For the 6^th-12th grade program, you’ll be tracking each book that you read—for a total of 8 books—by August 15^th.

You can keep track of book titles in your Book Bank, and you’ll earn a cool reading reward once you reach the halfway mark (by reading at least 4 books).

PLUS, everyone who completes the program will be entered to win one of more than 40 raffle prizes.

Art Contest

Entries will be accepted from Wednesday, July 1 through Saturday, August 15. All entrants must be students within Yakima County (excluding the city of Grandview).

Submissions will be grouped into one of the three following grade ranges:

• K-4th grade
• 5^th-8^th grade
• 9^th-12^th grade

Art Submission Guidelines:

• Entries can be any visual format, including but not limited to:
  • Watercolor
  • Color Pencil/Color Crayon
  • Oil Painting
  • Acrylic Painting
  • Charcoal
  • Pen/Pencil
  • Photographs
  • Collage
  • Chalk drawing
• Finished piece must no larger than 8.5” x 11”
• Entries must include a 1-3 sentence description of the artwork
• Designs must be original work of the entrant and should not include any copied or copyrighted materials.
• Only images, no words will be accepted
• One entry per contestant. (You may also submit an entry to the Writing Contest.)
• Entries will not be returned, so make a copy!
• All entry forms must be signed by the artist and by the artist’s parent/legal guardian. Entry Form will serve as a release allowing the Library District to use and/or display the artist’s work and name on the website.

Deadline: Submissions will be accepted through Saturday, August 15th, 2020. Winners will be notified by mid-September 2020.

How to Enter:

• To enter online, click here to fill out the entry form 
• To enter by mail, click the following link to print and fill out the 2020 SRP Art Contest Entry Form then mail it along with your artwork to: Yakima Valley Libraries, c/o 2020 Summer Art & Writing Contest, 102 N. Third St, Yakima, WA 98901
• To enter in-person, drop off your entry at any YVL branch using the book drop. If using a book drop to enter, please print and fill out the 2020 SRP Art Contest Entry Form, place it inside a sealed envelope along with your artwork, and write “2020 Summer Art & Writing Contest” on the outside of the envelope.

Prizes:

Three winners will be selected for each age group. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Yakima Valley Libraries Foundation, art contest winners will have the choice of a gift card to Michael’s Crafts, Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabrics, Blick Art, or Arteza, in the following denominations:

In addition, ALL winning entries will be published on the Library’s website, as an ebook, and will receive a book featuring all of the winning entries.

Short Story Writing Contest

Entries will be accepted from Wednesday, July 1 through  Saturday, August 15. All entrants must be students within Yakima County (excluding the city of Grandview).

Submissions will be grouped into one of the three following grade ranges:

• K-4th grade
• 5^th-8^th grade
• 9^th-12^th grade

Story Submission Guidelines:

• All writing must be the original work of the entrant.
• Each entrant may submit one (1) fictional short story, with the following word limits:
  • • • Grades K-4^th: up to 500 words
      • Grades 5^th-8^th: up to 850 words
      • Grades 9^th-12^th: up to 1,000 words
• Story must be typed in 12 point font double-spaced OR written on 8.5” x 11” paper.
• All handwritten entries must be printed and legible
• Stories may be written in English or Spanish
• One entry per contestant. (You may also submit an entry to the Art Contest)
• Entries will NOT be returned, so make a copy!
• All entry forms must be signed by the writer and by the writer’s parent/legal guardian. This Entry Form will serve as a release allowing the Library District to use and/or display the writer’s work and first name on the Library website.

Deadline: Submissions will be accepted through Saturday, August 15th, 2020. Winners will be notified by mid-September 2020.

How to Enter:

• To enter online, click here to fill out the entry form 
• To enter by mail, click the following link to print the 2020 SRP Writing Contest Entry Form, fill it out, and mail it along with your story to: Yakima Valley Libraries, c/o 2020 Summer Art & Writing Contest, 102 N. Third St, Yakima, WA 98901
• To enter in-person, drop off your entry at any YVL branch using the book drop. If using a book drop to enter, please print and fill out the 2020 SRP Writing Contest Entry Form, place it inside a sealed envelope along with your story, and write “2020 Summer Art & Writing Contest” on the outside of the envelope.

Prizes:

Three winners will be selected for each age group. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Yakima Valley Libraries Foundation, writing contest winners will have the choice of a gift card to Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Inklings Bookshop, Powell’s, Third Place Books, or Thrift Books, in the following denominations:

In addition, ALL winning entries will be published on the Library’s website, as an ebook, and winners will receive a book featuring all of the winning entries.