Each new year brings opportunities for families to focus on things like making healthier lifestyle choices or finding ways to incorporate new adventures or activities into daily habits. One of the easiest things families can do together in the new year is find ways to read more books.
As a book friendly family, reading is something we have always done together. One of my fondest memories with my children is our trips to local libraries for fun events and activities. Each of us clearly stated on our visits that we would only check-out one or two books, yet each of us left with a stack of books we happily hauled back home. If one of your goals for this new year is to read more, then I recommend joining one of the local reading challenges or book clubs that our libraries have to offer. There are options for the entire family to enjoy!
I am an avid book nerd and will never turn down a good read, whether it's borrowed, used, free, or brand new. I love to see my kids reading and I am proud to say that I have shared that passion with all four of my children. What I love most about participating in reading challenges is that it can be a great way to get your children excited about reading and you can each share what you have learned with your family.
Participation in reading challenges will encourage young children to learn the love of reading a good book. Joining a winter reading challenge or participating in a local book club in the new year as a family can foster a love for reading into your home all year long.
Here are the details on some winter reading challenges for families in New Iberia, Abbeville, Breaux Bridge and Morgan City for 2025!
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Iberia Parish Library |
The Iberia Parish Library offers reading challenges for patrons of all ages throughout the year. This January the Bundle Up with Books Winter Reading Challenge kicks off on January 1, 2025 for registered participants.
Bundle Up With Books
The Bundle Up with Books Winter Reading Challenge begins on January 1, 2025 and runs through the end of the month. The challenge is open to participants of all ages and encourages them to read at least 600 minutes via books, magazines, audiobooks, or novels. You can sign up at one of the local branches of the Iberia Parish Library or if you have a existing Beanstack account, you can easily register online.
Beanstack is a digital tool that most of our local libraries use to track and record progress for reading challenges. Once you have your account set up through the Iberia Parish Library, you are good to go! You can continue to use this account for any other reading challenges that come up throughout the year with the Iberia Parish Library. You can also visit www.iberialibrary.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack app on your android or IOS device.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program through the Iberia Parish Library is offered all year long and was created for younger children who may just be learning to read or who enjoy trips to the library for picture books. Parents can register at one of the local branches or online via Beanstack and log the reading they do with their child. You can count your books more than once too! This program is great for the littles to foster a love of books, learning, and encourages quality bonding time with your children or grandchildren.
Other Resources
The Iberia Parish Library also offers book clubs and other activities for all patrons to enjoy throughout the year. Check out their January 2025 calendar of events here for more details.
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Vermilion Parish Library |
The Vermilion Parish Library offers annual reading challenges and book clubs for its patrons giving them opportunity to participate in different activities each month. To participate in reading challenges throughout the year, patrons must create an account through Beanstack via the Vermilion Parish Library system. This account will be separate from any other Beanstack account you may have through other library systems.
Younger children will enjoy the weekly story times at several branches of library system throughout the year. Each session includes stories and sometimes an easy craft for kids to create. You can see a list of upcoming story times and other events happening this January at each branch here. Library patrons also will enjoy the option to download digital and audio books via the Vermilion Parish Cloud Library. Visit them online or stop by one of the local branches of the Vermilion Parish Library system for assistance with creating your account.
St. Martin Parish Library |
The St. Martin Parish Library offers reading challenges throughout the year as well as book clubs, homeschool meet-ups, activities and other events that encourage kids to love learning and reading. You can see their January 2025 calendar of events here.
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The St. Martin Parish Library also participates in a free library service for Louisiana residents who may be permanently or temporarily visually impaired. The State Library’s Talking Books and Braille Library (TBBL) program offers the ability for all patrons to enjoy a good read. Any Louisiana resident four years of age and older have the option to borrow items like audio playback machines, braille books and magazines, large print books and more. According to the brochure, there is no postage charge for returning materials. A toll-free telephone number is available for ordering books. Readers can also order books by mail, email, fax or internet. You can get more information on this program here.
Be sure to connect with the St. Martin Parish Library for any questions on upcoming events or programs this year.
St. Mary Parish Library |
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Similar to the program via the Iberia Parish Library, the St. Mary Parish Library offers the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten as well to encourage young readers. Parents can register for this challenge via Beanstack for the St. Mary Parish Library system. Again, this will be separate from any other Beanstack accounts you may have with other libraries. Once registered, parents will log the books their child has completed with the goal of completing 1000 books before kindergarten. No matter if your child is still in diapers or not, reading with your child offers a time that both of you can look forward too.
Other Resources
The St. Mary Parish Library also offers several book clubs throughout the year at different branches for adults and kids. Check out their January 2025 calendar of events here. They also offer a summer reading challenge for students and their families to read together and keep learning over summer break. Be sure to connect with the St. Mary Parish Library on Facebook for all latest updates to upcoming events and programs for this year.
