# Are You "Bananas About Books"?!
Jacksonville's annual "Celebrate Reading Week" returns March 2-8, 2025, with appearances by local and award-winning authors, live children's entertainers, your favorite book characters, and much more! The week kicks off with a Book Giveaway (for kids in Pre-K through Grade 5), made possible by Children's Literacy Initiative. Stop by your local Jacksonville Public Library starting Monday, March 3, to get a free book for your child's home library. Supplies are limited!
There will be more giveaways, special guests and events throughout the week (full schedule below). 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!
It all builds up to Family Reading Day - an un-peel-ievably cool party we're throwing 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, get a free Developmental Screening for your little ones, pick up another free book (and free lunch) and learn more about all of ways Jacksonville supports literacy and families.
# 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.
Sticky Fingers Cooking School: Turning Story Time into Snack Time!
Tuesday, March 4, from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Balis Center (San Marco Branch Library)
Celebrate reading by turning your favorite books into delicious dishes! Children ages 5-12 will prepare tasty recipes inspired by beloved children's stories. Get ready to whisk away to a world of culinary creativity. Attendance is first-come, first-served. Please arrive early to check in.
# 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.). This 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.
You Don't Want To Miss:
Sing along with Shana Banana and her dog puppets, Hal and Henson, at 9:15 a.m. on the Main Stage (Second Floor) 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 at 10 a.m.!
Before You Split:
Kids get a FREE book (while supplies last)! Lunch giveaway begins at 11 a.m. (until we run out).
Guests of honor: The four first-place winners of the Celebrate Reading Week Book Review Writing Contest will be announced at 11 a.m. in the Hightower Children's Art Room (Second Floor) where they will also receive their $100 cash prize. Note: the deadline for entries has passed.
Also Featuring:
- River City Readers Bookmobile
- Curious George Meet and Greet
- Biscuit, the Little Yellow Puppy
- Third Annual VPK Art Showcase
- Balloon artists, face painters and more!
Other Scheduled Events:
-
Books, Blocks and Balls (Developmental Screenings)
- Between 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (no registration required)
- Help Me Grow Florida and ELC of Duval
-
Junior Lit Chat with local author Heather Duke
- 10:15 -10:45 a.m. (click to register)
- Hightower Children's Art Room
-
New Worlds Reading Literacy Workshop (for parents)
- 10:30 - 11 a.m. (click to register)
-
Little Readers Storytime
- 11-11:30 a.m. (no registration required)
- Terry Children's Theatre
-
Junior Lit Chat with award-winning author Heather Marie
- 11:30 - 11:45 a.m. (click to register)
-
Family Literacy Workshop (with READ USA)
- 11:30 - 12 p.m. (no registration required)
- Building vocabulary for students in grades 3-6
-
Junior Lit Chat with award-winning local author PeTika Tave
- 12-12:30 p.m. (click to register)
- Terry Children's Theatre
Note: Junior Lit Chat (author talk) programs and Literacy Workshops will require registration and is pre-registration is recommended as space is limited. You'll need a Jacksonville Public Library card to register. 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 short Q&A and book signing.
Read with a Ranger
Join a National Park Service Ranger for an exciting new adventure! In this fun and interactive program, kids will explore the wonders of the outdoors, discover fascinating animals and plants, and learn about the importance of protecting our natural resources. With hands-on activities and storytelling, young adventurers will gain a deeper appreciation for the environment and history in Jacksonville.
Join us Saturday, March 8 from 1 - 2 p.m. at Webb Wesconnett Library.
Find a StoryWalk® in Jacksonville
A StoryWalk® is a series of mounted posts, found on walking trails and in public parks, featuring pages from a children’s picture book. Each post directs you to the next page in the story and includes fun prompts that spur conversation and movement. The Library is proud to support early literacy, physical activity, and family time together in nature by working with neighborhood organizations and the Parks and Recreation Department on StoryWalk® projects in Jacksonville.
You can find the newest StoryWalk® along the LaVilla Link of the Emerald Trail (near the Butterfly Garden) on Johnson Street, between W. Duval Street and W. Church Streets. If you live on the Historic Eastside, check out StoryWalk® at A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park (located at 1096 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32206). For more information, visit jaxlibrary.org/StoryWalkJax.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier Vermont. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalks® have been installed in 50 states and 12 countries including, Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea!
# 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. Register and log your reading minutes on the Beanstack website or download the app.
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.
Mayor Deegan's River City Readers Bookmobile
Mayor Deegan’s River City Readers challenge is exciting readers of all ages throughout Jacksonville. As readers continue to log their daily reading minutes in the Beanstack app, this year we're hitting the road with a brand new River City Readers Bookmobile!
Don't miss the Bookmobile at Family Reading Day and look for the Bookmobile in your neck of the woods soon for reading events, book giveaways, and more. The River City Readers Bookmobile is sponsored by PNC Bank and the Lucy Gooding Foundation.
The bookmobile was officially unveiled on Monday, January 27, at City Hall at an event celebrating the Jacksonville's top young readers. In 2024, over two million reading minutes were logged on the Beanstack app by Jacksonville readers!
