"READING DAY WITH THE GRIFFINS" THIS SUNDAY

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins, in conjunction with Independent Bank, the Grand Rapids Public Library, the Kent District Library and Sleeping Bear Press, will present the inaugural “Reading Day with the Griffins” this Sunday, March 2, when the Lake Erie Monsters visit Van Andel Arena at 4 p.m.

The fun of reading will be the focus as the Griffins celebrate the start of Reading Month. Children’s author Brad Herzog will meet parents and kids from 3-5 p.m. on the concourse and sign copies of his new book, E is for Extreme: An Extreme Sports Alphabet. Six of Herzog’s sports alphabet books will be among 18 Sleeping Bear Press hockey, sports and Michigan-themed titles that will be available for fans to purchase at 20 percent off listed prices. All proceeds from the book sale will benefit the Griffins Youth Foundation.

All kids 12 and younger are invited to participate in a children’s storybook costume contest, dressing as their favorite character. Parents must register their children at griffinshockey.com/costumecontest by Friday, Feb. 29 at noon. Costumes will be judged by a panel of local children’s librarians, with the top three winning savings bonds from Independent Bank and prize packages from the John Ball Zoo, the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, the Griffins and local restaurants.

Both the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Kent District Library will have tables on the arena concourse to promote their services and sign up new card holders, and all current library card holders can get a 2-for-1 deal on tickets at the Van Andel Arena box office on game day (limit two complimentary tickets per card). In addition, children who’ve completed the required three hours of reading as part of the “Griff’s Reading Goals” program can redeem their voucher at The Zone or at the Van Andel Arena box office for two free tickets to this game.

Griffins players will join in the fun as well, through a videoboard feature in which they discuss their favorite childhood books and story characters.

Other children’s attractions and activities will be offered as part of the day’s overall Griff’s Carnival theme, including face-painting, sign-making, balloons, a first-intermission hockey game with kids from the Griffins Youth Foundation, and a second-intermission broomball game featuring a menagerie of 20 local mascots. Fans can bring their skates and take to the ice after the game for the O’Charley’s Post-Game Open Skate, and three Griffins players will sign autographs after the game from the player bench.

For more information on Reading Day with the Griffins, please visit griffinshockey.com or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 3046.