Readers of all ages are in for a frightfully good time during the Stillwater Public Library’s annual winter reading program. This year’s theme, “Feel the Chill with Winter Reading,” runs from Nov. 17 through Dec. 31, and encourages everyone to make reading a daily habit over the holiday season.

The goal is for participants to read at least a little bit every single day, with 15 minutes being the suggested minimum. Readers will need to register using Beanstack, a reading challenge app and web platform used by libraries to motivate people to read. Participants will join the winter reading challenge and record the days read. Paper trackers will also be made available for anyone who prefers an analog version.

Readers will earn incentives as they complete their daily reading, including:

• For every seven days of reading completed, readers of all ages will earn a small prize plus an entry into their age group’s grand prize drawing – kids (0-grade 5), teens (grades six through 12) or adults (ages 18 and up).
• After reaching 28 days of reading, kids and teens may choose a free book. Adults will receive a coupon to get a free book from the Friends of the Library’s spring used book sale, while supplies last.
• At the end of the program, one reader from each age group will win a $50 gift card to the local bookstore of their choice.

Children’s Librarian Elizabeth Murray cannot wait to announce the return of the library’s official winter reading mascot, which will be revealed on Dec. 1.

“Every December, the library hides a stuffed creature in the stacks that children are invited to find and bring to the help desks to get a small prize,” Murray said. “It’s so popular that we get asked about it all year.”

To set the mood for winter reading, everyone is invited to attend a sing-along version of a classic holiday film about a pumpkin king who wants to spread the joy of Christmas with a little ghoulish fun. The screening will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1:30 p.m. Librarians are devising some interactive props for use during key parts of the film to make the experience even more entertaining. Costumes are encouraged, and popcorn and drinks will be provided.

For a slightly less frightful movie experience, a traditional Christmas story featuring some very popular puppets will be shown on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will include hot chocolate and popcorn, and moviegoers are invited to get cozy by wearing pajamas and bringing snuggly blankets.

During the final week of winter reading, the library hopes to entertain its littlest patrons with a drop-in program in the storytime room, on Tuesday, Dec. 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will be engaging hands-on activities to celebrate the winter season, including a snowball toss, coloring station and more.

The winter reading program is sponsored by the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library and local businesses, who provide coupon prizes as incentives.

“We are very thankful for the Friends and all of the Stillwater businesses that support our readers year after year,” Murray said. “They know the importance of reading and the positive impact that fun reading experiences have on encouraging lifelong literacy and learning.”

Visit stillwaterok.gov/LibraryWinter to learn more about the winter reading program and to register to participate. Even though the program does not officially start until Nov. 17, readers can pre-register via Beanstack now, and when the winter reading challenge goes live, they will receive a notification that it is time to join the challenge.