Baker Book House knows reading is its own reward, but that hasn’t stopped the store from rewarding readers too. This past summer, Baker’s summer reading program had 1,802 participants who earned a combined total of $18,615 in store gift certificates. This December, the store is adding a new reward program aimed at Christmas break.
So far, 13 area schools have taken up Baker’s new Christmas Break Reading Challenge. Students are being challenged to complete 25 different reading-related goals over their break.
“I'm excited about Baker's Christmas Break Reading Challenge,” says Lois Boerman, Teacher Librarian at Ada Christian School. “One of my favorites squares is 'Listen to an Audiobook.' When our kids were little, we listened to audiobooks on tape and CD in the car. Our kids still talk about the books and narrators that they loved. I hope families take advantage of listening to an audiobook together while traveling or while doing life around the house. It's a great way to create shared memories.”
Some other challenges on the list are “Read 100 minutes in a single day” and “Swap a book with a friend.” Participants can earn 5 different levels of rewards based on the number of challenges they complete. The top prize for participation includes a $5 gift certificate to Baker Book House, a free hot cocoa at Baker’s Beanery, a reading challenge bracelet, an item from Baker’s treasure chest, and an exclusive reading challenge bookmark.
What inspired the challenge?
“My kids were the ones who came up with the idea,” says Josh Mosey, Children's Book Buyer at Baker Book House. “We were talking about ways to encourage other kids to love reading like we do, and they started coming up with different reading challenges. All I did was write it down to show it to the Baker Book House management team.”
As an added incentive for schools to participate, Baker Book House is awarding a $50 gift card to the librarian whose school has the greatest percentage of participants.
The Christmas Break Reading Challenge isn’t limited to participating schools. Any child can take part. Challenge sheets are available for pick up at Baker Book House, 2768 East Paris Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Completed challenge sheets must be returned to Baker Book House by January 11, 2020.
