Adams readers heading to Global Reading Challenge finals

For the first time, a team from Adams Elementary is heading to the city finals for the 2011 Global Reading Challenge.

More than 350 teams, comprised of 3,000+ fourth and fifth graders, from 45 Seattle elementary schools entered the challenge and only ten teams, including the “Just Read It” team from Adams are moving on to the finals. For the competition, each team read ten books and are quizzed on characters, plots and settings.

“The purpose of the Global Reading Challenge is to promote the love of reading and to have fun,” Mary Palmer, a children’s librarian said. “This program introduces children to a wide variety of literature and multicultural reading materials and provides a recreational outlet for readers. It makes it possible for students of all reading levels to participate in a public library activity that promotes reading as a pleasurable lifelong experience.”

The in-school challenges started on February 1 and one team from each school advanced to the semifinals, which ended Thursday. The Global Reading Challenge City Final is Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m. in the Microsoft Auditorium at the Central Library (1000 4th Ave).