Get into reading, win prizes from library

Teens! ('tweens! and all you other kids! Also adults!)

Act now to take advantage of these really good deals!

From now until July 31, read anything (except maybe a cereal box), then hasten to your Charleston County Library or go online (www.ccpl.org), fill out a form and get entered to win prizes.

Here's a bigger deal: Each branch library will have weekly prize drawings for free passes to local attractions.

And an even bigger deal:

If you're a teen and you read 800 pages, you'll get a free value meal from McDonald's, a T-shirt and entry into the grand-prize drawing at your library branch. The drawings will vary by branch, but each has a minimum value of $50.

Visit your library or www.ccpl.org and click on Summer Reading for All Ages.

The program for children ages 11 and younger is called "One World, Many Stories."

Children who read for five hours will earn a certificate, a RiverDogs pass and a reading medal.

Children who read for 15 hours may choose from tickets to the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, Carolina Ice Palace or Charleston Battery soccer. Or they can pick karate lessons from Master Studios or Carolina Karate.

Children who log 30 hours of reading receive a T-shirt and entry into the grand-prize drawing as well as the Community of Readers home library prize drawing.

The more children read, the more they can win. Adults are welcome to participate in the "Reading Wave" program and perhaps engage in some friendly competition to determine which generation earns the most prizes.

For the youth programs, book lists are provided.

It's not too late to get started. And it's never too late to read!

Reach Fran Hawk at franbooks@yahoo.com.