WrestleMania Reading Challenge kicks off

WrestleMania Reading Challenge kicks off

The national WrestleMania Reading Challenge, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, and World Wrestling Entertainment, with support from Mattel and DK Publishing, launches this week as part of Teen Read Week.

More than 1,800 librarians registered for the fifth annual reading challenge, in which teens and tweens in grades 5-12 in the United States and Canada participate. Teen Read Week (Oct. 18-24) encourages teens to read for fun, and the WrestleMania Reading Challenge offers teens and tweens the opportunity to extend reading from Teen Read Week into the rest of the academic year.

Sign up is easy. Just go to your participating school or public library and sign up. (Participating U.S./Canadian libraries)

Students who participate in the WrestleMania Reading Challenge are encouraged to read one item a week -- a magazine, a book or other materials -- and keep a reading log continuing through Jan. 19, 2010. Students can then enter a bookmark contest. Each participating library chooses a winner for each age group (grades 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12). Bookmark winners on the local level will win a DVD from WWE. John Morrison, Kofi Kingston, and Nikki and Brie Bella are this year's WrestleMania Reading Challenge spokespersons.

"Working with WWE Mattel and DK Books provides YALSA the chance to reach a wide audience of teens and tweens with a message about the vital role books, reading and libraries can play in their lives," said YALSA President Linda Braun.

Twenty-one finalists (three in each grade category from seven different regions) will win airfare, hotel and tickets to WrestleMania XXVI in Phoenix for themselves and a parent or guardian, while their sponsoring library wins $2,000. Finalists will then compete in the WrestleMania Reading Challenge World Finals in Phoenix. The winners will win ringside seats at WrestleMania XXVI. (Contest rules)

Also, check out this year's winning Teens' Top 10 list from YALSA. (WATCH) Learn more about the Teens' Top Ten at ala.org.

The WrestleMania Reading Challenge is also featured in the United Kingdom and is offered in more than 2,600 schools. The students in the U.K. participate through programs offered by the National Literacy Trust. Part of the contest is the requirement to write a brief essay. (MORE | WATCH)

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