Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) is inviting North Country children to take part in his annual Summer Reading Challenge, which is held in partnership with New York State Libraries. This year's theme is “Oceans of Possibilities,” celebrating all things aquatic and ocean-related for kids to learn about and explore as they read.

“Summer is the best time to get together with friends and family and enjoy the beautiful weather, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to find your next great adventure inside a book,” said Jones. “Reading helps keep our kids’ minds active during the summer months and it can also expand our worlds, allowing us to dive deeper into a world of imagination and introduce us to characters that inspire. My Summer Reading Challenge is the perfect motivation to pick up that book you have been eyeing and give it a go, and I hope North Country parents will encourage their children to participate.”

The challenge asks children to read a book for a minimum of 15 minutes a day, for at least 40 days during July and August. Children can read independently or with a family member and must mark days completed on the provided calendar. Once they have completed their 40 days or more, they can send the calendar to Jones’s office and receive a certificate in the mail. As North Country libraries continue to bounce back from the effects of the pandemic, this challenge provides a great opportunity for children to return to these valuable community hubs, noted Jones.

If a child has not received a copy of Jones’ 2022 Summer Reading Challenge calendar and bookmarks from their school, these materials can be printed out by visiting his website, nyassembly.gov/mem/Billy-Jones, and clicking on the banner for the challenge.