The Clallam County Literacy Council is sponsoring a reading contest and reading party leading up to and celebrating Family Literacy Day on Nov. 1.
The contest is for all children in Clallam County, from preschool through eighth grade.
Children can either read a book or have one read to them, then fill out an entry blank and put the entry into a box at their school or at any branch of the North Olympic Library System.
On Tuesday in Forks — and Oct. 28 in all other participating Clallam County schools and libraries — 20 names will be drawn from the entries.
The winning students receive a book and an invitation to have their picture taken on Nov. 1 at the public library.
There also will be one $20 gift certificate to the Deer Park Cinema in Port Angeles for each school, so winners can see the new Disney movie, “Brother Bear,”‘ or a movie of their choice.
A number of literacy activities and reading parties are being planned throughout the county: Saturday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave.; and Nov. 1, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.; the Clallam Bay Library, 16990 Highway 112, Clallam Bay; and in the Sequim High School cafeteria, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
All children attending the reading parties will receive a book, and in addition, names will be drawn from the libraries’ boxes and more prizes awarded.
As part of the literacy campaign, the Peninsula Daily News and the weekly Sequim Gazette are featuring literacy with a special supplement.
United Way and local service clubs are donating time and money to support Family Literacy Day events.
The Clallam County Literacy Council includes representatives from United Way, Peninsula College, the North Olympic Library System, school districts, local human service organizations, newspapers and service clubs.
The council’s objective is to coordinate and promote literacy activities in Clallam County.
For more information, call the United Way office at 360-457-3011.