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With a new Winter Reading Challenge only days away, Suffolk is hungry for another win.

Starting Jan. 1, the Suffolk Public Library is kicking off another Winter Reading Challenge. This challenge is for the Suffolk community to reach a reading goal of 9,000 books.

“When the weather turns cold, nothing beats cozy comforts like snuggling up with a good book,” said Community Engagement Library Dr. Matthew Thompson.

The Winter Reading Challenge will run from Jan. 1 to 31. Readers are encouraged to pre-register early and download the Beanstack app to log books once the challenge officially starts.

The Suffolk Public Library is looking forward to keeping the momentum going for another win after winning the Winter Reading Challenge national prize three years in a row.

“It’s the perfect prescription for the pandemic blues,” said Thompson. “Since everyone is staying in these days, might as well put on a pot of coffee or make a cup of cocoa, and take a trip using your imagination.”

Winning this challenge comes with various potential prizes, including Beats headphones, Netflix for a year and a mysterious escape room subscription box. There is also a special prize for the classroom with the most participation. The class will win a live, online performance by a professional storyteller plus a gift certificate to Teachers Pay Teachers. Updates will be posted regularly on the Suffolk Public Library’s social media with guest appearances throughout the month from Tux the Penguin and Ulysses the Unicorn.

“This year, I’m making it my New Year’s Resolution to read more,” said Thompson.

Zoobean created this year’s #WinterRead2021 challenge. Simon & Schuster is the challenge’s corporate sponsor, which created a “Books Like Us” program featuring authors from all walks of life to promote diversity.

As always, the Suffolk Public Library is here with its mission to put books in readers’ hands. Curbside service is open for circulation Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To learn more about the Suffolk Public Library, visit www.suffolkpubliclibrary.com.