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Arlington Public Library

Summer Reading

Picture Perfect! Arlington’s Summer Reading Challenges

Summer Reading Has Never Looked So Good

When you love a book, you might dress like your favorite characters, suggest it to your friends (furry, robot and otherwise...) and even cook it for dinner!

These photos were submitted by Arlington readers in response to this year's Summer Reading Bonus Challenge, to celebrate the fun of reading!

All dressed up for "Kiki's Delivery Service"
Emily Lu, "Reading is Transformative" - All dressed up for "Kiki's Delivery Service"
My years-old cactus is lately becoming friends with a recent household addition, some red clover. Together they are sharing in The Magic of Reality by Dawkins.
Becca Bowman, "Reading Is For Everyone" - My years-old cactus is lately becoming friends with a recent household addition, some red clover. Together they are sharing in The Magic of Reality by Dawkins.
Even robots enjoy summer reading!
Jennifer Hart, "Reading Is for Everyone" - Even robots enjoy summer reading!
My favorite character is Celia Bowen from "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern.
Brit Austin, "Reading Is Transformative" - My favorite character is Celia Bowen from "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern.

Each Bonus Challenge submission earns you a raffle ticket in Summer Reading! Monday, August 3 is the last day to begin reading to complete the main Summer Reading Challenge, but you can still participate in Summer Reading up until September 1.

This is a Full English Breakfast that Mrs. Hudson might have served to her boarders, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson -- except that they often skipped breakfast, hot on the trail of criminals!
Jennifer Hart, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - This is a Full English Breakfast that Mrs. Hudson might have served to her boarders, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson -- except that they often skipped breakfast, hot on the trail of criminals!
Pippin, taking a break from studying his dog tricks.
Brittany Ham, "Reading is For Everyone" -Pippin, taking a break from studying his dog tricks.
My bear thinks I keep the house too cold, so he wraps up in a hat and scarf while he listens to The Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on CD.
Carol Smith, "Reading Is For Everyone"- My bear thinks I keep the house too cold, so he wraps up in a hat and scarf while he listens to The Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on CD.
Claire Fraser from the Outlander series. Wearing "the red dress" from book 2, "Dragonfly in Amber."
Amanda Starbuck, "Reading Is Transformative" - Claire Fraser from the Outlander series. Wearing "the red dress" from book 2, "Dragonfly in Amber."

Get inspired by these photos of Arlington community and Library staff Bonus Challenge submissions!

I photographed myself reading on a swing.
Chloe Iverson, "Reading Happens Everywhere" - I photographed myself reading on a swing.
A cake in honor of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Dion Dorsey, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - A cake in honor of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
I let my plants start reading and now they're getting ideas.
Karen Bishop, "Reading Is for Everyone" - I let my plants start reading and now they're getting ideas.
Reading laying on the floor of my bedroom with my head on a hamburger pillow.
Ethan Shinn, "Reading Happens Everywhere" - Reading laying on the floor of my bedroom with my head on a hamburger pillow.
Dressed as a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player reading a book about Baseball Superstars.
Ethan Shinn, "Reading is Transformative" - Dressed as a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player reading a book about Baseball Superstars.
Here I am as a female version of Lockwood from the Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud.
Hannah Axt, "Reading is Transformative" - Here I am as a female version of Lockwood from the Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud.
The Flopsy Bunnies
Hillary Sheldon, "Reading is for Everyone" - The Flopsy Bunnies
On a bridge
Hillary Sheldon, Reading Happens Everywhere" - On a bridge
Babar!
Hillary Sheldon, "Reading is Transformative" - Babar!
[11:59 AM] Megan Wianecki William reads his new favorite book, "This Is a Dog" by Ross Collins. Nissa is not impressed.
Megan Wianecki, "Reading Is For Everyone" - William reads his new favorite book, "This Is a Dog" by Ross Collins. Nissa is not impressed.
A plug for the library's audiobooks! Last night I finished Pete Buttigieg's "Shortest Way Home" while social distanced walking by the Pentagon.
Brian Nilsson, "Reading Gets Us Through (Pandemic Picks)" - A plug for the library's audiobooks! Last night I finished Pete Buttigieg's "Shortest Way Home" while social distanced walking by the Pentagon.
Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall/Thomas Cromwell trilogy...I read the final "The Mirror and the Light" then started rereading the first two.
Joan Winston, "Reading Gets Us Through (Pandemic Picks)" - Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall/Thomas Cromwell trilogy...I read the final "The Mirror and the Light" then started rereading the first two.
A family gathering
Kathryn Dominguez, "Reading Is for Everyone" - A family gathering
This photo is of my cat, Jelly Bean Jones, posing with two books I checked out from the library before the pandemic.
Krista O'Connell, "Reading is for Everyone" - This photo is of my cat, Jelly Bean Jones, posing with two books I checked out from the library before the pandemic.
The "How to Train Your Dragon" books are SUPER AWESOME. I wish this series would never end!
Lindy Friedl, "Pandemic Picks" - The "How to Train Your Dragon" books are SUPER AWESOME. I wish this series would never end!
Dragons love tacos!
Maddox Cory, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - Dragons love tacos!
Inspired by "Brooklyn," and Eilis learning to eat with Tony's family, we crafted Italian foods, including homemade pizza and Zoodles. The dough we made ourselves, from yeast we cultivate. Bon appetit!
Maura Danehey, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - Inspired by "Brooklyn," and Eilis learning to eat with Tony's family, we crafted Italian foods, including homemade pizza and Zoodles. The dough we made ourselves, from yeast we cultivate. Bon appetit!
Dragons love tacos!
McKensie Cory, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - Dragons love tacos!
I really like Garfield because it is funny!
Porter Friedl, "Pandemic Picks" - I really like Garfield because it is funny!
I've been eating so many tomato sandwiches lately. I feel like Harriet the Spy.
ILiz Laribee, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - 've been eating so many tomato sandwiches lately. I feel like Harriet the Spy.
I recently finished The Bookshop of Yesterday and loved it! What I thought was going to be an easy fun read, was such a fantastic journey and storytelling. I posted this to my bookstagram to share.
Samantha Avnet, "Reading Gets Us Through (Pandemic Picks)" - I recently finished The Bookshop of Yesterday and loved it! What I thought was going to be an easy fun read, was such a fantastic journey and storytelling. I posted this to my bookstagram to share.
Here is a picture of my puppy Toby reading the book "Where the Red Fern Grows".
Sylvia Witt, "Reading Is for Everyone" - Here is a picture of my puppy Toby reading the book "Where the Red Fern Grows".
It's me, a young woman, reclined in a window seat reading "So you want to talk about race" by Ijeoma Oluo
Tabitha Ricketts, "Reading Gets Us Through (Pandemic Picks)" - It's me, a young woman, reclined in a window seat reading "So you want to talk about race" by Ijeoma Oluo
I love reading graphic novels!
Tyler Friedl, "Pandemic Picks" -I love reading graphic novels!
In Freedom Riders by Raymond Arsenault, many freedom rides were sent from Nashville by Diane Nash at Fisk University. These Nashville freedom riders inspired a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich
William Hornbeck, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - In Freedom Riders by Raymond Arsenault, many freedom rides were sent from Nashville by Diane Nash at Fisk University. These Nashville freedom riders inspired a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich
I made this jello brain to go along with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! I like the first sentence of the book: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."
Hannah Axt, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - I made this jello brain to go along with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! I like the first sentence of the book: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."
Here is Toasted Coconut reading Book 3 of "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" and gleaning new ideas for his nefarious plot to take over the world.
Emily Lu, "Reading is for Everyone" - Here is Toasted Coconut reading Book 3 of "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" and gleaning new ideas for his nefarious plot to take over the world.

2020 Short Story Writing Contest – CLOSED

Summer Reading 2020 - Open to Teens and Adults

Submission Dates: June 1 - August 14

Adults and teens are invited to submit a work of short fiction for consideration in Arlington Public Library’s second annual short story writing contest.

drawing on a fountain pen made up of dots

Entries will be judged by a committee of Arlington Public Library staff.

Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded for the top three entries in both the teen and adult categories, and the winning stories will be published on the Library website.

  • First place: $200 Visa Gift Card
  • Second place: $100 Visa Gift Card
  • Third place: $50 Visa Gift Card

Adult Contest Rules and Submission Guidelines:

  • Stories with a theme of “Connections” are encouraged.
  • Participants must be at least 18 years of age as of August 14, 2020, and eligible for an Arlington Public Library card.
  • All entries must be submitted online using the Library submission form.
  • Submissions must be received between June 1 and August 14, 2020.
  • Stories must be 3,000 words or less.
  • Only one story may be submitted per writer.
  • The submitted document should include a title page containing:
    • Story title
    • Author’s name
    • Address
    • Phone number
    • Email address
  • All stories must be original and previously unpublished.
  • Story content should be appropriate for a wide audience.

Teen Contest Rules and Submission Guidelines:

  • Participants must be between 13 and 17 years of age as of August 14, 2020 and eligible for an Arlington Public Library card.
  • All entries must be submitted online using the Library submission form.
  • Submissions must be received between June 1 and August 14, 2020.
  • Stories must be 1,200 words or less.
  • Only one story may be submitted per writer.
  • The submitted document should include a title page containing:
    • Story title
    • Author’s name
    • Author's age
    • Address
    • Phone number
    • Email address
  • All stories must be original and previously unpublished.
  • Story content should be appropriate for a wide audience.

Entries that do not meet the above guidelines will be disqualified from judging.

In addition, winning entrants agree to have their story published on the Arlington Public Library website.

Submissions Closed

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