INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The Indianapolis Public Library and the Indiana Pacers are teaming up to encourage children to read.
Call-a-Pacer returns for the 27th year as Pacers players and personalities read basketball-inspired children stories on the 24-hour call-a-story telephone line.
You can call 317-275-4444 or toll-free at 877-275-900 to hear the recorded stories. You can also listen at Pacers.com.
See the full schedule below:
- Week of April 6 – Justin Holiday reads “The Basketball Ball” by Esme Raji Codell
- April 13 – T.J. McConnell reads “Dino-Basketball” by Lisa Wheeler
- April 20 – Alize Johnson reads “The Real Slam Dunk” by Charisse K. Richardson
- April 27 – Goga Bitadze reads “Basketball Break” by CC Joven
- May 4 – T.J. Leaf reads “Brendan & Belinda & The Slam Dunk” by Anne Rockwell
- May 11 – Naz Mitrou-Long reads “Short Takes: Fast-Break Basketball Poetry” by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
- May 18 – Edmond Sumner reads “Jimmy’s Boa & the Bungee Jump Slam Dunk” by Trinka Hakes Noble
- May 26 – Doug McDermott reads “Crazy About Basketball” by Loris Lesynski
- June 1 – Malcolm Brogdan reads “The Basketball Blowout” by David A. Kelly
- June 8 – Myles Turner reads “Salt in His Shoes” by Deloris Jordan
- June 15 – Domantas Sabonis reads “I Got Next” by Daria Peoples-Riley
- June 22 - Victor Oladipo reads “Tall Tales: Six Amazing Basketball Dreams” by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
Last year, Call-a-Pacer received 43,758 during the 12 weeks.
The remainder of the 2019-2020 Pacers season is questionable after all NBA games were suspended indefinitely after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.
The Indianapolis Public Library is keeping all libraries closed "until further notice." Public events and programs have been suspended through May 4 in efforts to contain COVID-19.
The Indianapolis Public Library is hoping to help by increasing the amount of available eBooks and eAudiobooks.
