Wood County Schools and Wood County Reads are excited to launch the Golden Ticket Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging students and families across Wood County to keep reading all summer long!
Originally launched in 2023, the Golden Ticket Summer Reading Challenge was created to increase access to books and inspire a love of reading beyond the school year. The program invites students of all ages to read books throughout the summer, collect golden tickets, and exchange those tickets for FREE books at special summer book fairs.
Golden tickets may be picked up at designated locations throughout the county, including Wood County and Vienna public libraries, Wood County Schools summer learning programs, YMCA programs, Energy Express sites, and Golden Ticket summer book fairs.
All Wood County children are invited to attend the Golden Ticket Launch Party on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 4:00–5:00 p.m. on the front lawn of Jefferson Elementary! Attendees will receive a FREE book and an extra golden ticket.
Organizations in attendance include Wood County Schools, ArtCart, Energy Express, the Wood County Public Library Bookmobile, The Health Plan, and the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.
This program is made possible through the generosity of The Spartan Foundation and Hap and Meg Esbenshade.
Learn more, access reading logs and book lists, and view ticket pickup locations and book fair information here: https://www.woodcountyschoolswv.com/page/goldenticket
Let’s make reading part of every summer adventure!