Fisher-Price's Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar, a toy that teaches preschoolers the basics of computer coding, is among the prizes to be awarded in the Chattanooga Public Library system's Make Play Read Learn summer reading program.Finale parties
All take place Saturday, July 30.› Downtown — 1001 Broad St. From 2 to 4:30 p.m., there will be crafts, games, puppet shows, face painting, characters, a free book for all who completed the MPRL program and special guests, including Professor Gig-A-Watt from EPB at 2:30 p.m. Teens can take part in the Harry Potter extravaganza. At 4 p.m., enjoy a visit from Mayor Andy Berke and a big confetti finish.› Eastgate — 5705 Marlin Road. From 2 to 4 p.m., kids can take part in crafts, activities and games featuring book characters from “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and Scaredy Squirrel, Pete the Cat, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter and Dork Diaries series. Costumes are welcome.› Northgate — 278 Northgate Mall Drive. From 2:30 to 5 p.m., visit for games, crafts and activities that center on the Make Play Read Learn theme.› South Chattanooga — 925 W. 39th St. From 12:30 to 3 p.m., Pete the Cat will highlight an extravaganza of crafts, games, face painting and other activities. Costumes are encouraged, particularly those inspired by Pete the Cat. At 1 p.m. Jennifer Daniels will perform Pete the Cat songs.
Make Play Read Learn passports
There’s still time to get an MPRL passport and collect activity stamps. The following locations will supply stamps. Visit http://chattlibrary.org/content/make-play-read-learn-best-summer-ever for suggested times to visit.› Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd.› Center for Mindful Living, 400 E. Main St.› Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave.› Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St.› High Point Climbing & Fitness, 219 Broad St.› Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View› Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road› TechTown, 325 Market St., Suite 200› Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St.› WTCI-TV, 7540 Bonnyshire Drive
Chattanooga Public Library officials are about to close the book on another summer reading program but not without a celebration of the record-setting Make Play Read Learn.
Mary Barnett, the library's public relations and special projects coordinator, says the reading rolls are "almost at 4,000 registered citywide, which is more than we have done in many years."
"In the first month, we broke a 20-year record," she adds, "then things leveled off but remained steady and rising."
And families can still register, she says, "so there is still time to play along."
Barnett attributes the program's success to expanding outside the library system and into neighborhoods "to make this a truly citywide summer learning program."
"In this we added new partners where kids could register, do activities and get points [toward prizes] all around the city," she says.
This year, children could sign up at all of the city's youth and family development centers, Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc., Northside Neighborhood House, The Bethlehem Center, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga Zoo, Center for Mindful Living and the Creative Discovery Museum, among other places.
Kids especially responded to the Make Play Read Learn passport, which tracked their summer activities and gathered their points. Barnett says these chronicles double as family keepsakes and reminders of what kids did over summer vacation.
"Adding this piece has been a smash hit, and our librarians and partners have been seeing kids all summer carrying their passports into the local museums and rec centers and branches to eagerly earn some points and get a stamp from that location," Barnett says.
The passport was designed to resemble an actual passport in size and content, complete with a place for the child's photo.
"It is definitely something we'll do again," Barnett says.
Finale parties, open to all, are scheduled Saturday, July 30, with various events at the four library locations. Names of grand-prize winners will be drawn at random at 4 p.m. for iPad Minis and $25 iTunes gift cards (one set for ages 8-18, another for younger participants).
Drawings for 10 additional prizes in each of the two age categories will be held the following week after tickets have been collected from the partnering registration sites.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.
Make Play Read Learn prizes
› Ages newborn to 7: Code-A-Pillar, Marble Run, gift card for bicycle, Magna Tiles, Visit Chattanooga package (family passes of four to Tennessee Aquarium, Imax Theater, Chattanooga Zoo, Creative Discovery Museum and High Point Climbing & Fitness), plus grand prize of iPad Mini and $25 iTunes gift card.› Ages 8-18: $100 gift card to jewelry store, $100 gift card for sneakers, gift card for bicycle, pizza and movie night for six people, Visit Chattanooga package (family passes of four to Tennessee Aquarium, Imax Theater, Chattanooga Zoo, Creative Discovery Museum and High Point Climbing & Fitness), plus grand prize of iPad Mini and $25 iTunes gift card.