Montgomery County Public Libraries encourages residents to stay engaged and keep learning during the colder months through its Winter Reading Marathon, a countywide program running through the end of February, that also celebrates part of Library Lovers Month.
The Winter Reading Marathon invites community members of all ages to read a total of 26.2 hours. That’s according to Maranda Schoppert who serves as the Early Literacy and Children’s Services Program Manager for Montgomery County Public Libraries.
The goal is to help prevent the seasonal slowdown in reading that often happens during winter. “Just reading one or two books with your kids, or sitting down and reading over lunch, that time really adds up,” Schoppert told MCM News.
The program is open to children, teens, and adults. Participants can track their reading online, with a librarian, or using a printed bookmark. Readers earn incentives along the way.
Schoppert also emphasizes the importance of reading together as a family. “Those adults are actually modeling really good behavior, building good habits, which the kids see and then want to copy.”
During the interview, Schoppert shared several children’s books she recommends for families, highlighting interactive, meaningful, and bilingual options that help make reading engaging and accessible for young readers.
Books recommended by Schoppert:
- Up, Up, Up Down by Kimberly Gee
- The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
- Who Wants a Tortoise? by Dave Keane
- I’m Hungry! ¡Tengo Hambre! by Angela Domínguez
The Winter Reading Marathon is free and open to the public. More information is available through Montgomery County Public Libraries.
