By Kimberly McMillian
Correspondent
DAYTON, Tenn. — Makenzie Johnson won last year’s reading contest for 6- to 9-year-olds at the Clyde W. Roddy Public Library, and she’s already got a strategy to win again.
She’s going to “read books that have a lot of pages and aren’t hard to get through,” said the 10-year-old, who’s moving up in the contest’s age categories.
Through the end of June, children of all ages can join in the Summer Reading Program at the library.
Brittany West, coordinator of the program, has recruited library volunteers and staff to create decorative hanging fish, coloring pages, activities and more for the aquatic theme, “Catch the Reading Wave.”
“Every year exceeds our expectations,” Ms. West said.
Weekly logs keep up with the number of books or total pages read, and prizes will be given in each age group for the winners.
TO PARTICIPATEWhat: Summer Reading ProgramWhere: Clyde W. Roddy Public Library, 371 First Ave., Dayton, Tenn.When: Through June 30Cost: FreeInformation: 423-775-8406
First prize in the 3- to 5-year-old range will be a LeapFrog Leapster with games. Top prize in the 6-13 age group is a Nintendo DSLite. Other prizes include cameras and Walmart gift cards.
Young adults, ages 14 to 17, will compete for an iPod Nano.
Last year’s winner, Johnathan Whittington, 16, said he’s competing “because of the prize.” His strategy is to read shorter fantasy and horror books first, then work his way up to longer ones.
Adult readers will turn in logs on Thursdays for a weekly drawing.
A carnival on June 30 at the library will conclude the monthly festivities.
Kimberly McMillian is based in Rhea County. Contact her at kdj424@bellsouth.net.