On Feb. 1st, Bookmans Entertainment Exchange launches the 2009 Bookmans' Reading Challenge in conjunction with Love of Reading Month. This follow-up to last year's highly successful contest was created by Bookmans to encourage reading in schools throughout Arizona, and has been expanded to include school districts in Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff. Bookmans will be awarding the school in each city with the highest average number of books read per student with $5,000, for a grand total of $15,000 donated towards schools in our communities.

"Last year, over 270,000 books were read by participating students, which was a record for the program," says Jacob Harper, Bookmans' Marketing Project Manager. "With even more schools participating this year, we expect to have well over 300,000 books read!"

Each month of the challenge, schools will also compete for a field trip to a local Bookmans store where students get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to a run a business, along with some special things to take home.

The 2009 Bookmans' Reading Challenge kicks off on Feb. 1st and ends on April 30th. The school with the highest average number of books read per student will be awarded $5,000 to use however it would like. Check bookmans.com for regular updates on each participating school's progress.