This year, 419 children participated in the challenge, reading a total of 4001 books. The challenge, which required reading 15 books to complete, was successfully finished by 165 children – twice as many as last year (in 2025, 89 children completed the challenge). Also, this year, a thousand more books were read than last year.
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However, the most important result of this challenge is not just in the numbers. 4001 books read means 4001 journeys to another world, new stories, discovered heroes, unexpected questions, or even another love for books born in childhood. Behind this number lie hundreds of children who chose not only entertainment but also books during the summer, developed a reading habit, and experienced that reading can be a fun adventure.
At the closing event on September 5th, held at the KMSVB Giruliai branch (Šlaito St. 10A), there was no shortage of good mood, games, cultural experiences, and, of course, awards. Prizes were given to all children who completed the challenge, and their perseverance and love for books became a beautiful summer proof that reading can unite and engage. The White Bear (animator Žygimantas Juška) also came to the celebration, continuing his great journey around the wide world, sharing his wisdom about the harsh Arctic, its inhabitants, surrounding glaciers, and snowdrifts. The Bear performed his favorite experiments with dry northern ice, held a quiz, gave out prizes, performed magic tricks, made slime icebergs, and invited children to a disco.
It is especially pleasing that this year significantly more children completed the challenge. This shows not only growing interest in reading but also children’s perseverance. Starting a reading journey is fun, but finishing it is a real achievement.
“These numbers make us very happy, but they are not the only result of the project. Behind every book read lies a child’s choice to open the book, time spent reading, a newly discovered story, and experience. What pleases us most is that this year more children dared to complete the entire journey. This shows their perseverance, engagement, and growing desire to read. Last year we joked that maybe someday so many children would join the challenge that we would have to celebrate the closing event at Švyturys Arena – we probably joked and are eagerly looking forward to next year,” said Renata Rudienė, director of the I. Kant Public Library.
For the library, this challenge is not only a summer project but also a way to show children that reading can be playful, engaging, and full of discoveries. The map, stickers, and
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Symbols of the Klaipėda region became a tool that helped connect the world of books with an environment familiar to children.
“Bookwalking around Klaipėda” was created so that reading would become a game and a journey. Each participant received a summer map, and for the books read, collected stickers symbolizing a journey around the Klaipėda region. While traveling, children met a dragon, saw the old kurėnas boat, discovered the warmth of amber, visited the chimney sweep and the little Klaipėda resident, and the bravest climbed the mysterious Witch Hill. At the end of the journey, children were awaited by the Book of Wisdom – a symbolic reminder that the greatest summer treasure is what we read, learn, and experience.
The challenge this year took place in nine branches of the Imanuel Kant Public Library of Klaipėda City Municipality. Children could freely choose the books to read – fairy tales, adventure stories, educational literature, and other works that invited them to dive into the world of books during the summer.
This summer journey has ended, but its stories have not disappeared. They remain in the children’s memory, on the shelves of newly discovered books, and, likely, in that small daily habit when the hand more often reaches for a book. 4001 books have already been read. How many more stories are waiting to be discovered?
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