Registration for the Iowa City Public Library’s Sweet Reads Winter Reading Program begins December 17.

Available for young readers ages zero through 12, the program will help children pass the winter hours when it’s too cold to play outdoors. It will run from December 17 through February 2.

Kids who read and track 10 books on their reading log will receive a small sweet treat. Anyone who reads and tracks an additional 10 books, for a total of 20 books, will receive a free kids’ meal at Chili’s Grill & Bar in Coralville.

Sign up at the Children’s Desk or online at icpl.org/wrp. All participants will receive a game card to track their progress.

Visit icpl.org/wrp for more information or call the Library at 319-356-5200.

Have you ever wanted to award a prize to your new favorite book? Here’s your chance!

Voting in the Iowa City Public Library’s Mock Caldecott Award begins Friday, December 1. The public is invited to cast their votes for their favorite picture books out of 10 titles nominated by ICPL’s Children’s Room librarians. The titles include:

• The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
• Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
• Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
• Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan and Eric Fan
• Heartbeat by Evan Turk
• A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
• The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer
• Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
• Imagine! by Raúl Colón
• Stop That Yawn by Caron Levis

Vote for your favorites online between December 1 and January 21. The title with the most votes will win ICPL’s Mock Caldecott Award.

The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year. Named in honor of the nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott, the first medal was awarded in 1933.

For more information about the Caldecott Medal, visit www.ala.org. For more information about ICPL’s Mock Caldecott Award, contact the Library at 319-356-5200.

Have you ever wanted to award a prize to your new favorite book? Here’s your chance!

Voting in the Iowa City Public Library’s Mock Newbery Award begins Friday, December 1. The public is invited to cast their votes for their favorite books out of 10 titles nominated by ICPL’s Children’s Room librarians. The titles include:

• Front Desk by Kelly Yang
• The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
• The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
• The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis
• Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
• The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor
• The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
• Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard
• The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
• Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Vote for your favorites online between December 1 and January 21. The title with the most votes will win ICPL’s Mock Newbery Award.

The Newbery Medal was established on June 22, 1921, making it the world’s first children book award. It is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery, the first medal was awarded in 1922.

For more information about the Newbery Medal, visit www.ala.org. For more information about ICPL’s Mock Newbery Award, contact the Library at 319-356-5200.

While we have plenty of fun activities planned in December, there are a few days this month when our hours will change.

• Friday, Dec. 14: Library closed for Staff Inservice Day
• Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25: Library closed
• Monday, Dec. 31: Library closes at 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 1: Library closed