Winter Reading 2025: Slow Down and Read!

December 16, 2024 All Ages, Featured, Library News

Our 2025 Winter Reading Program for all ages kicks off on Monday, December 16! Join our reading challenge to earn rewards as you slide into great books.

New for this year, you may preregister. Just sign up online through Beanstack, download the app (iOS/Google Play), and you’ll be ready to log reading when the program officially begins. If you want to wait until December 16, stop by the Harnish library location to register, we can’t wait to see you. Our Eastgate Branch will have reading logs once it reopens in January. Slow Down and Read runs through Monday, January 27, 2025. Reading logs will be also available to download and print at home.

Take it slow, enjoy some great reads, and join the fun!

Challenge Instructions

Introducing Sloth, Snail, and Turtle, your friendly guides for Slow Down and Read! Winter Reading is here, and it’s for everyone in our community: AAPLD cardholders, cardholders from other libraries, and even those without a library card. Dive into the joy of reading and relaxation this winter season!

You have the chance to earn prizes throughout the program. Grand prize drawings are reserved for AAPLD cardholders.

Dates and Details

  • December 16, 2024: Paper reading logs will be available at the Adult Services Desk and Youth Services Desk at the Harnish Main Library.
  • January 6, 2025: Logs will also be available at our newly renovated Eastgate Branch when it reopens.
  • January 27, 2025: Final day of the Winter Reading Challenge.
  • February 3, 2025: Grand prize winners will be drawn and notified.

Not so fast, learn about the Prizes

Slow Down and read, and don’t miss out on the chance to win some amazing goodies!

Register for Winter Reading and earn the Snail Trading Card, a brag tag and more. Beginning January 6, 2025, visit the Eastgate Branch library to find the Sloth Trading Card (ask at either desk!) and pick up the Turtle Trading Card at the Harnish Main Library, by asking at either the Adult Services or Youth Services desks.

Read for five hours to complete the challenge and earn your prize:

Adults: Lip balm and choice of coupon
Teens (Grades 9-12): Paperback book, lip balm, and choice of coupon
Youth (Birth-Grade 8): Paperback book, choice of toy, choice of coupon

For each hour read (up through 10 hours), AAPLD cardholders earn a ticket for our grand prize drawings. Each age group has their own grand prizes to choose from:

Adult Grand Prize Drawings: 

  • Cooking Basket (1 winner):Win a slow cooker and a cookbook! 
  • Cozy Basket (1 winner): Win a cozy blanket, sloth tea infuser, sloth socks, and a copy of “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt!
  • Relaxation Basket (1 winner) – Win a facial from Timeless Skin and Spa and 3 Yeti cups. 
  • Self Care Basket (1 winner) – Win an Almond Milk and Honey bath gift set!
  • Winter Reading Theme Hat (10 winners): Win a Winter Reading Hat!

 

Teen Grand Prize Drawings (Grades 9-12):

  • Pokémon Basket (1 winner): A plushie Slo Poke is the star of the show this season! It also includes a Pokemon backpack kit & trading card game starter pack. Trading cards donated by Black Cat Books, Algonquin. 
  • Relaxation Basket (1 winner): Relax in a Sloth robe and slow down your breathing with a meditation noise machine. Also includes stress relief coloring books.
  • SpongeBob Basket (1 winner): 4 Tickets to Crystal Lake South High School’s production of Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical and a Gary the Snail plushie.

Youth Grand Prize Drawings (Birth-Grade 8):

  • $50 Amazon Gift Card (1 winner)
  • Sloth Prize Pack (1 winner): Win a sloth stroller teether, a stuffed sloth, I Love You Slow Much board book, and sloth bath toy set!
  • Snail Prize Pack (1 winner): Win a snail LEGO set, a set of vinyl snail stickers, a stuffed snail, and two Crab & Snail graphic novels: The Invisible Whale and The Tidal Pool of Cool!
  • Turtle Prize Pack (1 winner): Win a stuffed turtle, a Minecraft Turtle Beach House LEGO set, and a set of turtle vinyl stickers!
  • Wolves Family Prize Pack (30 winners): Win vouchers for 6 tickets to see a 2024-25 regular season Chicago Wolves game at the Allstate Arena plus a Winter Reading hat.

Can’t Make It to the Library?
No problem! Starting December 16, you can print your own logs from the comfort of home by revisiting this webpage.

Winter Reading Sponsors

This winter, cozy up, relax, and let Sloth, Snail, and Turtle guide you to a world of reading adventures. Let’s make this a season to remember together!