You’ll be starry eyed from reading when you join the White Oak Library District’s annual Summer Reading Challenge, Read Under the Stars, which starts May 28th and runs through July 12th.

Readers (and pre-readers) of all ages from children to seniors can win great prizes – just for reading. And, to make things even more fun this year, three great prizes are being offered just for signing up. An annual family membership to Brookfield Zoo will be given away to three lucky readers – one from Crest Hill, one from Lockport, and one from Romeoville — who get moving on their Summer Reading by June 8th.

You can sign up online or in person at the Crest Hill, Lockport, and Romeoville Branch Libraries starting May 28th.

You can also sign up at one of the Summer Reading Kick-Off parties, which are held at each Branch Library. The Romeoville Branch will kick things off on Tuesday, May 28th at 6:00 pm where you’ll use your imagination to camp out under the stars. The Crest Hill Branch will follow suit on May 29th at 5:00 pm with outdoor activities including campfire songs, s’mores, and games. On May 30th, the Lockport Branch will offer their annual ice cream social and a commemorative photo of your family from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. As usual, these activities are free of charge and open to the public. Registration is encouraged – click on the Branch name to register.

The Summer Reading Challenge does not end there, though. Registration, check-ins, fabulous programs, and prize opportunities are going strong through July 12th. Prize baskets for adults, teens, and children will be very tempting. They are filled with great stuff including gift cards, many of which have been donated by local businesses. For a complete list, see our website. So, don’t hesitate to stop in any time the Library is open and ask how you can participate in Read Under the Stars and win some prizes.

Children and teens who complete the challenge will be invited to a the Finale Party, which will feature a petting zoo, free hot dog lunch, Kona Ice, games, and a rocket launch. If teen participants reach their cumulative goal of 2,400 hours of reading, their party will include all of the above plus a whole lot of extras including three teens who will be chosen to pie a librarian in the face. The Finale Party is made possible by generous donations from our gold sponsor, NuMark Credit Union of Crest Hill, our silver sponsor, Lockport Woman’s Club, and our bronze sponsor Willow Falls Homeowners Association.

New this year is a grand prize that is being offered to one lucky winner in the library district. The winner (who could be an adult, a teen, or a child) will need to complete the challenge in order to enter to win one of the following prizes: 1) A telescope; 2) Camping gear; or 3) Annual family memberships to BOTH Adler Planetarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Really, how could you pass up this opportunity to learn and experience the world through both reading and doing? So, sign up! It’s the first step towards a great summer “under the wide and starry sky.” And, yes, that’s a book.