Grizz Kids gears up for reading program

By Ryan Christensen

Libraries and hockey are teaming up to help kids and parents read together, with the added bonus of a free hockey game. The “Grizz Kids” winter ready program encourages kids to read with their parents at least five times for at least 15 minutes each time, before the end of March.

The Grizz Kids reading record can be picked up at any Salt Lake county library. When the reading has been accomplished, the completed cards must be signed by a parent or guardian before they are returned to the library. With a completed, signed reading card, children willreceive a ticket voucher good for a hockey game at the E-Center on April 5.

The voucher also will allow the rest of the family to purchase tickets at 50 percent off. To be eligible for the program, kids must be between the ages of 5 and 14.

“We have done this before, back in the ’03-’04, and the ’04-’05 season,” said Adrian Denny of the Utah Grizzlies. “The turnout was excellent. Both games had a couple hundred kids. But the pace this year is ahead of previous years, at least double. It’s a good thing that we have done with the library.”

The Utah Grizzlies approached the Salt Lake County library system with the reading program as a way to give back to the community and to promote reading, as well as to bring hockey and libraries, which are usually on opposite ends of the spectrum, together. “We have great players who like to give back and get involved,” Denny said. , adding that hockey players themselves like to read. A lot of them “read on the plane,” while traveling, Denny continues.

For more information contact the Draper City library at 801-944-7649.