Children and teens participating in Montgomery County Public Libraries' 2022 Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Challenge! will have a chance to help save the Bay with us this summer.
This year participants are reading toward a communal goal to make a tangible difference in the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They will complete missions by reading books or having books read to them, doing activities, and attending virtual or in-person library programs, such as the county-wide kick-off event, which was held at Rockville Library on June 18 and enjoyed by more than 2,500 people.
As readers complete missions, the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County (FOLMC) will make contributions to help save the Bay—whether it be helping plant water-filtering trees and oysters or restoring critical habitat for iconic Bay watershed species like ospreys, tundra swans, and diamondback terrapins.
Montgomery County kids are already rising to the reading challenge. One commented that, "the Bay is important to save. There are lots of animals that live there, but they can't live there if the Bay isn't clean." Another claimed, "we need to save the terrapins, the fish, the birds, all the animals that live there." A fifth grader said, "the Bay is out of balance. If we read books, we can help get the Bay back in balance."
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, more than 23 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the world's oceans and waterways in just one year. So, this year, instead of small plastic prizes, children will earn eco-friendly incentives and e-badges for completing missions. Everyone who joins the Summer Reading Challenge! will receive a free new book (while supplies last) when they sign up. And in fact, thanks to MCPL's partnership with the Washington Nationals, after completing the second mission everyone will receive a voucher redeemable for two free tickets to a Nats baseball game, while supplies last. Those who complete all three missions will get a voucher to use for a book of their choice at any FOLMC Bookstore.
MCPL librarians have updated the suggested reading lists for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, grades K-6, middle school, and high school, as well as Spanish language lists for preschool through grade 5, so everyone can find books that are just right for them. There are even MCPL video book talks to inspire readers. The recommended booklists are awash with ocean- and Chesapeake Bay-themed titles, but also cover a wide range of other interests as well, so there is something for everyone.
Montgomery County Public Libraries' Recommended Chesapeake Reads
- Captain John Smith's Big and Beautiful Bay by Rebecca C. Jones
- In the year 1608, Captain John Smith and his crew didn't know what to expect when they set out from Jamestown to explore a body of water known as the Chesapeake.
- Waterman's Child by Barbara Mitchell
- Young Annie begins with the story of her great grandmother and tells about her family's life as fisherfolk on the Chesapeake Bay.
- Meet Naiche: A Native Boy from the Chesapeake Bay Area by Gabrielle Tayac
- This book details a day in the life of a rural Maryland boy of Piscataway and Apache descent, looking at his family, the history of both his tribes, and some traditional ceremonies and customs that are still observed today.
- Mary Underwater by Shannon Doleski
- Gaining courage from Joan of Arc, fourteen-year-old Mary Murphy navigates the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in a submersible built with her friend, Kip, escaping a difficult situation in her home. Includes facts about domestic violence, and about submersibles.
- Iva Honeysuckle Meets Her Match by Candice Ransom.
- Soon-to-be eleven-year-old Iva Honeycutt, her cousin Heaven, and their families are going to Stingray Point on the Chesapeake Bay for a short vacation, and Iva is eager to explore and discover something—like just who the mysterious Mr. Smith upstairs is.
All children and teens are invited to join the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge! and dive deep to keep up their reading skills while saving the Bay and exploring the Oceans of Possibilities at MCPL. The challenge runs from June 15 through August 31 and aligns with Montgomery County's Climate Action Plan, with the support of the FOLMC.
— Amy K. Alapati, Head of Children's Services at the Damascus Library branch of
Montgomery County Public Libraries
