Haverhill fourth- through eighth-graders are invited to compete in the Wimpy Kid Olympics at the Haverhill Public Library over February school vacation.
The Children and Teen Services Departments at the Haverhill Public Library present the first ever Wimpy Kid Olympics.
The Wimpy Olympics are a take-off on the wildly popular "Wimpy Kid" book series by Massachusetts resident Jeff Kinney, which has 11 million books in print, said publisher Harry Abrams.
Kinney's main character is Greg Heffley, a skinny, not very athletic teen entering middle school.
His books are popular with kids whom teachers refer to as "reluctant" readers as well as those who always seem to have a book in their hands, librarians say.
In honor of the popularity of the series — Kinney recently signed a movie deal — the Children and Teen Services Departments at the Haverhill Public Library have teamed up for the local Wimpy Olympics.
The opening reception will be Saturday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m. in the Johnson Auditorium. Readers are invited to attend to talk about the books they love and sign up for any or all of the remaining events:
The Wimpy Kid Games will be on Tuesday, February 16 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Test your wimpy skills in a relay race, find the perfect classroom chair and see who can avoid the dreaded Cheese Touch.
Wimpy Kid Cartooning will be on Wednesday, February 17 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Learn how to create a journal like Greg Heffley's.
Wimpy Kid Improvisational Workshop & Auditions will be on Thursday, February 18 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Do you have what it takes to be Greg Heffley? Join us for an improvisational acting workshop.
Who Wants to be a Wimpy Kid? Trivia Game will be on Friday, February 19 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Come test your Wimpy Kid trivia knowledge and compare your skills with the other Wimpy Kid contestants!
Find Your Wimpiest Talent will be on Tuesday, February 23, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. Discover your own Wimpiest talents! Practice, and put together an act, either by yourself or with your friends, to enter in the Closing Ceremony and Talent Show on Thursday, February 25.
Wimpy Kid Olympics Closing Ceremony and Talent Show! will be Thursday, February 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Johnson Auditorium
For details and to register, contact Leslie Todd, head of Children's Services, at 978-373-1586 ext. 626, or Alissa Lauzon, Young Adult librarian, ext. 608.
