Read Your Way to Fenway winners celebrate at August 19 Red Sox game

Boston Public Library and its young readers celebrated summer at Fenway Park on Sunday when the Red Sox played the Tampa Bay Rays, with the conclusion of the 23^nd annual Read Your Way to Fenway reading contest. Boston’s Youth aged 5-17 were encouraged to read a minimum of three books for a chance to watch the Red Sox play. More than 503 youth participated in the program and 438 winners were chosen, as well as a few lucky on-field pregame participants. Read a few sample winning essays.

“I’m proud of our readers and residents that are active and engaged in learning opportunities with our libraries this summer,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Spending a day cheering on the Red Sox is a special way to mark the end of summer and look forward to the school year ahead.”

“Read Your Way to Fenway is a much-loved, fun initiative that fosters the reading and literacy skills of our young people over the summer months, and Boston Public Library is grateful to the Red Sox Foundation and Aramark for their support helping these readers celebrate their accomplishments with family, friends, and their first place team,” said David Leonard, Boston Public Library President.

Summer reading events continue through August for people of all ages, with children celebrating the theme “Libraries Rock!” and teens learning how to Cook with Miss Debbie and Breakdance with the Floor Lords. Adults may fill in a Bingo card, available at all BPL locations, or download and print the card with what you read, did, or discovered through Friday, September 7.

Boston Public Library and its patrons have currently read 1.9 million minutes so far this summer, surpassing its citywide goal of inviting Bostonians of all ages to read a collective one million minutes from June through August. The BPL encourages readers to continue submitting minutes through August to see how far it can go.

Read Your Way to Fenway is generously sponsored by the Red Sox Foundation and Aramark.

Boston Public Library provides educational, cultural and civic enrichment, free to all, for the residents of Boston, Massachusetts and beyond, through its collections, services, programs, and spaces. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. As a City of Boston historic cultural institution, Boston Public Library today features a Central Library, twenty-five branches, a map center, business library, archival center; extensive special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints; and rich digital content and online services. The award-winning renovation of the Central Library in Copley Square, completed in 2016, together with new, renovated and historic branches, provide a transformed library for the next generation of users. Boston Public Library enriches lives, hosting thousands of free educational programs and exhibitions, and provides free library services online and in-person to millions of people each year.  To learn more, visit bpl.org.