# Are You "Bananas About Books"?!
Jacksonville's annual "Celebrate Reading Week" returns March 2-8, 2025, with appearances by local and nationally known authors, live children's entertainers, your favorite book characters, and much more! Don't miss the un-peel-ievably cool party for the whole family at the Main Library in downtown Jacksonville on Saturday, March 8. You're sure to have a bunch of fun! You'll also get to check out Mayor Deegan's new River City Readers Bookmobile, pick up a free book (and free lunch) and learn more about all of ways Jacksonville supports literacy and families.
Jacksonville Public Library, the City of Jacksonville, Mayor Deegan's River City Readers and our partners at Kids Hope Alliance, Early Learning Coalition of Duval, Read Jax, READ USA, and the Library Foundation of Jacksonville have put together a bold series of programs and events at libraries and locations across Jacksonville - all to help you foster a love of reading in your family!
# Celebrate Reading Week
Programs and Events, March 2-8
Life Lab: Early Literacy "Things Parents Need to Know"
Monday, March 3, at 4 p.m. at Webb Wesconnett Library
Parents: Want to help your child get a head start on their literacy skills? Come and get the tools you need to start your child on the road to success. This one-hour workshop with READ USA offers hands-on activities to strengthen your early literacy skills to help your child develop a love of books and reading. Your instructor for this workshop is Judy A. Howard, M.Ed., Senior Director of Michael Ward and Jennifer Glock Literacy Institute.
Workshop covers:
- Early Literacy Skills
- Phonological Awareness Activities
- Early Writing
- How to develop a love of books/reading
- Make and Take Standards Aligned Activity
Registration recommended.
# Live Children's Entertainers
Magicians and live animals take the stage for engaging and educational performances that are just bursting with a-peel! Please note: These programs are intended for school-age children (5-12 years old) and their families. Registration is not required but space is limited and is first-come, first-served. Please arrive early. Check in starts 30 minutes prior to the start of the program.
Live from the Library: Wild Wonders
Tuesday, March 4, from 4-5 p.m. at Regency Square Branch
Explore the colorful world of reptiles! Scaly Sensations by Wild Wonders is an interactive program that is both educational and entertaining for all ages. You'll get up close with local and exotic reptiles and learn about their habits and backgrounds. The program uses story, music and humor to enhance and excite learning about the natural world. Note: Children and adults will be asked to help hold selected animals. Of course, there will also be a few warm fuzzies in the program.
Live from the Library: Dadician
Wednesday, March 5, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Brown Eastside Branch
Dadician, the Family Magician, presents "The Magic of Imagination!" In this fun family program, you'll discover that by using your imagination and working together, we can all fill our lives with magic.
# Family Reading Day Celebration
Celebrate Reading Week ends on Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. with a big "Family Reading Day" celebration at the Main Library (303 N. Laura St.). Sing along with Shana Banana and her dog puppets, Hal and Henson, at 9:30 a.m. in a wholesome and entertaining performance you're sure to "go bananas" about. Don't forget to come dressed as your favorite book character! After the show, Shana Banana will lead everyone in a Book Character Parade through the Library!
Before you split: Kids get a FREE book and lunch (while supplies last)!
Also featuring:
- River City Readers Bookmobile
- Curious George Meet and Greet
- Biscuit, the Little Yellow Puppy
- Third Annual VPK Art Showcase
- Literacy Workshop for Parents
- Balloon artists, face painters and more!
Happening on the 2nd Floor (Children's Department):
-
Junior Lit Chat with local author Heather Duke
- 10:15 -10:45 a.m. (click to register)
- Hightower Children's Art Room
-
Little Readers Storytime
- 11-11:30 a.m.
- Terry Children's Theatre
-
Junior Lit Chat with local author PeTika Tave
- 12-12:30 p.m. (click to register)
- Terry Children's Theatre
Note: A limited number of copies of these authors books will be given away to registered attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be time after the program for a Q&A and book signing.
Family Reading Day is a FREE event (no registration required) but library cards are recommended. If you do not have a library card, you can apply online in as little as two minutes or visit the help desk on the first floor when you get to the library.
Note: Junior Lit Chat (author talk) programs and Literacy Workshops for Parents will require registration and is pre-registration is recommended as space is limited. Links for these literacy workshops will be available soon.
# Be our Guests of Honor
The four first-place winners of the Celebrate Reading Week Book Review Writing Contest will be announced on stage at Family Reading Day on March 8 and receive their $100 cash prize for writing the most persuasive book review (in their age group). Note: We are still accepting entries through February 22, 2025. Winners will be notified by March 5. The contest is open to public, private, and homeschool students in Duval County.
Contest Rules
- Prompt: What is your favorite book and why do you recommend it?
- Book reviews may include text or drawings and should not exceed 300 words.
- Submit entries via email to ilovebooks@coj.net(link sends e-mail) or fill out an entry form at your local library. You'll need to include your name, parent’s name, grade level, and contact information. Note: To ensure judging is fair and impartial, we ask that you only include your name on the entry form or in the body of the email and not on the book review itself.
- The best book review from each age group (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and grades 9-12) wins!
# City-Wide Literacy Challenge
Are you participating in Mayor Deegan's River City Readers challenge? Throughout Celebrate Reading Week, there will be several book giveaways, a chance to learn more about Beanstack and Mayor Deegan's River City Readers challenge, and opportunities for parents to connect to helpful community resources. And if you don't already have one, it's a great time to get a library card.
Last year, River City Readers logged over 2,000,000 reading minutes with Beanstack. In January, the city's top young readers were recognized (and given prizes) at a ceremony with Mayor Deegan.
New to the challenge?
All you have to do is read at least 20 minutes per day and log those reading minutes online. You'll be awarded digital badges for logging multiple days in a row and for completing other reading-related activities.
Join the River City Readers Challenge
- Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Download and open the Beanstack Tracker app.
- Using the Find a Site search bar, type Jax Library or River City Readers.
Log Your Reading Minutes
- Go to the Beanstack app*.
- The Home screen has a summary of your reading activities.
- To log time read, touch the plus sign in the green button at the bottom of the screen.
- Touch the Reading button to log time spent reading.
- If you have more than one reader in your account, you will be prompted to choose the reader you are logging for.
- Choose your logging method.
- When logging by book title, if you only know part of the title, you can choose Search for a Title and enter what you know.
- Touch the title that you want to log.
- If you want to track your reading progress as you progress through a book, keep the Track progress button on. If you would like to only add minutes read to your log, turn off the Track progress button.
*You can also register and log your reading minutes on the Beanstack website.
