South Queens, NY — As temperatures rise and COVID-19 restrictions ease, New Yorkers are enjoying a summer spending time outside with friends and family. But summer is also the perfect time to sit down with a good book. This year, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-AD 38) is inviting South Queens youth to join the Assembly’s annual Summer Reading Challenge, a partnership between the Assembly and New York State Libraries.

The Summer Reading Challenge aims to counteract the “summer slide” phenomenon, wherein students’ reading proficiency regresses while out of school. Preventing the summer slide is more important than ever in 2021, after over a year of students having limited engagement under distance learning. The Challenge allows students to keep their minds active while developing a lifelong love of learning.

To complete the Challenge, young people must read a book for a minimum of 15 minutes a day for at least 40 days during July and August. They can complete the reading either on their own or with the help of a partner or guardian. Participants will receive a calendar from Assemblywoman Rajkumar, and mark off the days where they read. After completing 40 days or more, children in the Assemblywoman’s district can submit the calendar to her office. She will then award each child with the Assembly Excellence in Reading certificate.

Young people needing access to books can visit their local Queens Public Library branch, where they can check out one or more of the over 5 million books in the collection. To find the branch nearest you, visit queenslibrary.org.

“Reading is fundamental to our young people’s education and success in life,” said Assemblywoman Rajkumar. “It opens the door to opportunities, and transports us to myriad worlds of experiences. Summer break is the time to make sure children read all year long - and all life long.”

She added, “I want the children of the 38th Assembly District to unleash their full potential. I invite every young person in my district to take the Challenge. Together we can show everyone that, when it comes to reading, the 38th Assembly District is unrivaled! I look forward to receiving a mountain of completed calendars in the mail!”

Assemblywoman Rajkumar herself will participate.

“I will be taking the Challenge along with you and posting about the books I read. I am excited already! I am starting with Evicted by Matthew Desmond, a Pulitzer Prize-winning book on poverty in American cities.”

For more information about the Summer Reading Challenge contact Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s office at rajkumarj@nyassembly.gov or 718-805-0950.