Between spending time with family and playing outside with friends, summer is the perfect time to sit down with a good book. As she has every year since being elected, Assemblywoman Buttenschon is inviting area kids to participate in the Assembly’s annual Summer Reading Challenge, held in partnership with New York State Libraries. The theme for the 2021 challenge is “Tails and Tales” which encourages children to learn more about their favorite animals and explore the world around them. Young readers are awarded with the Assembly Excellence in Reading certificate to recognize their efforts and dedication.

 “There’s no better way to help kids expand their horizons and keep their minds active than by picking up a good book,” Assemblywoman Buttenschon said. “A well-spun tale can take us to new, exciting worlds, transport us back in time and introduce us to historical figures. This Summer Reading Challenge is a great way to foster a lifelong love of reading and ensure that our kids keep learning once the school year ends.”

Far too often, kids’ reading levels slip during the summer months in a phenomenon known as “summer slide,” forcing them to spend crucial time catching back up once school reconvenes in the fall.Reading is a simple, effective solution to help children keep their academic levels up and be prepared for a new school year, all while having fun in the process, Buttenschon noted. In addition, the Assembly Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to explore our local libraries and learn about the vast number of programs and services they offer once again.

Buttenschon’s Summer Reading 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 on their own or with a partner or caregiver and mark off days on the calendar provided. Once they’ve completed 40 days or more, they submit the calendar to Assemblywoman Buttenschon and then receive a certificate in the mail.

This year, Assemblywoman Buttenschon has expanded upon the summer reading challenge and teamed up with community organizations, such as Broadway Utica, Utica Devils and Oneida County Historical Society, to help area youth explore the "tales" of their community.

Summer Reading participation calendars, bookmarks and events can be found on the Assemblywoman’s website at https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Marianne-Buttenschon. To find out more information contact Assemblywoman Buttenschon’s office at 315-732-1055 or ButtenschonM@nyassembly.gov

To view a clip of Assemblywoman Buttenschon reading to students at Staley Elementary in Rome, please visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/15iIadOY6sGaZyxCQcPN-IiWsBwH3mhxd/view?usp=sharing