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17 Elm Street | North Haven, CT 06473 | (203) 239-5803

Children's Winter Reading

Noodleman in a winter wonderland

Who Can Participate?

Children ages birth to 5th grade who are:

  • Residents of North Haven  

  • Children of Town of North Haven employees 

  • Grandchildren of North Haven residents

  • Non- Resident North Haven school students

If the video player above is not working, watch the video on Vimeo here.

How to Participate

Children ages Birth – Fifth Grade must register in person in the North Haven Library Children’s Department starting on January 12th through February 28th. Bring your form with you. If you do not have the original form, we can provide one when you sign up. The earlier you register, the greater your chance of completing the Winter Reading Challenge. A staff member will help you sign up and award you a raffle ticket for a chance to win the grand prize.

The Rules Are Simple:

  1. Borrow and read/use one item from each of the 15 sections listed beside NoodleMan. (You do not have to go in numerical order.) Each item can only be applied to one section and cannot apply to multiple children.

  2. When you borrow your items, let us know you are doing our Winter Reading Challenge and hand us your Reading Challenge form. Library staff will check off and initial each section you have completed.

  3. Once you read or explored a little of each item, color in all parts of the picture labeled with the corresponding number.

  4. Once you have completed all 15 items and colored your picture, return it to the Children’s Department to collect Bring this form with you. If you do not have the original form, we can provide one when you sign up. The earlier you register, the greater your chance of completing the Winter Reading Challenge. A staff member will help you sign up and award you a raffle ticket for a chance to win the grand prize.

Tips for Reading Out Loud with Your Child

  1. Make reading time part of your child’s routine. Try reading a book in the morning when your child wakes up, after lunchtime, before naptime or before bedtime—see what works best for your child.

  2. Make reading time exciting. Read using different voices for different characters or pick books with simple songs and rhymes.

  3. Make reading time interesting. Let your child pick out the books they want you to read out loud to them based on their interests or pictures that they like on the cover of a book.

  4. Make reading time comforting. Children love hearing the same books over and over again. It’s okay to read the same book multiple times!

  5. Make reading time interactive. As your child gets older, ask them questions about what’s happening in the pictures on each page or what they think might happen next.

The last day of our Winter Reading Challenge is February 28, 2026. Your challenge form must be completed and prizes must be collected by Friday, February 28th before 4:00 P.M. Sorry, no prizes will be awarded after 4:00 P.M. on February 28, 2026.  The grand prize winner will be notified the following Monday, March 2nd, 2026.

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Please note: If you lose your form mid-program, we can provide you with a new form, but not an additional raffle ticket. You will have to START OVER. Previous check outs will not apply to the new form.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No, just be sure to visit the library to check out items from the specific areas listed on your Winter Reading Challenge sheet.

  • You do not have to read every day, but reading more often will increase your chances of completing the challenge.

  • Yes. Our Winter Reading goal is to help you learn all of the different items available at the library. You will have to visit the library to explore all of the designated sections in order to check out items so you can color in your NoodleMan sheet.

  • Yes. Anyone can read to you and help you color your Winter Reading Challenge sheet.

  • We suggest visiting the library once a week for Winter Reading. 

  • If you lose your reading form, please come to the Children's Service Desk and ask a staff member for a new one. You will get a new sheet (but not an additional raffle ticket), but you will have to start your Winter Reading Challenge over from the beginning. We suggest you put your sheet somewhere safe such as in a folder or hanging on the refrigerator. 

  • You can redeem your winter-themed prize as soon as you have checked out and colored in all of the sections listed on your sheet. Prizes can be collected until Saturday. February 28th @ 4:00pm.

  • The grand prize winner will be notified the following Monday, March 2nd, 2026.

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