Reading is my all-time favorite hobby. That’s why I host a book club for Wichita moms and create book lists for kids of all ages for different holidays!
Summer library trips were something I looked forward to each week as a kid. I could read for hours on end. And, I’m so glad that my kids are following in my footsteps. They both have little reading lamps that clip onto their headboard. They are both allowed to read in bed for as long as they’d like as long as they stay in their bed. And, when we go to the library, they always grab big stacks of books.
So, that’s why I partnered with The Wichita Public Library for their summer reading program. But, they aren’t the only local summer reading program!
Andover Public Library
Summer reading program starts June 1st. Create an account in the Beanstack app and register for reading challenges. Click here to find out how or watch the videos below.
You can also register and log your reading on your computer. Go to https://andoverlibrary.beanstack.org/.
There will be virtual story times, activities, and digital escape rooms.
Click here for more information.
Barnes & Noble
Participation is a fun and easy way for kids to earn free books. They simply read a designated number of books – library books, books borrowed from friends or books bought at Barnes & Noble – write about their favorite part in our Reading Journal, and bring a completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore. Children then choose their free book from the books listed on the Reading Journal and collect their free book from a store near them during July and August.
Click here to see the reading journal.
Bradford Memorial Library (El-Dorado)
Children ages 0-4: Pre-readers Summer Challenge
Parents and children will log the minutes they read, up to 5 hours, through Beanstack, and complete 10 activities to win a book, a certificate of completion, and a fun farm animal rubber ducky.
Children ages 5-12: Tails and Tales Summer Reading Challenge
Children who complete 10 hours of reading this summer will win a prize book and completion certificate.
All children who participate each week in the challenges by logging minutes, or activities will be entered into drawings all summer long to win prizes from many of our participating local businesses. Those children who complete the challenge will be entered into a Grand Prize Drawing!
We will still have some programming for children available online, so don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook.
The Summer Reading Program will run June 1-July 23.
Please pick up your summer reading challenge prizes by July 29 at 5:00 pm.
Click here for more information.
Derby Public Library
Get ready for a WILD summer at Derby Public Library! The Youth Services librarians have planned events and activities for babies all the way up to teens. This year’s theme is Tails and Tales, so get ready to shake your tail feather at Preschool Storytime, learn about wild and mythical creatures in Library Explorers, and play crazy animal games in Teen Tuesday.
Be sure to sign up for our reading challenge through the Beanstack Reading Tracker. More information can be found below. Don’t hesitate to the call the library and ask for the Youth Services desk if you have any questions!
Registration for the Summer Reading Challenge on Beanstack and events on the library calendar begins June 1, 2021. Remember, all reading and activities need to be logged in Beanstack and prizes picked up by 5 p.m. Sunday, July 25, 2021.
Birth to age 3: There are 4 activities in each of the 5 early literacy practices for caregivers to complete with their child. Many of these activities may be things you already do with your child. If something isn’t age appropriate for your child, replace it with reading a book.
Preschool to entering 5th grade: Read (or be read to) for 12 hours.
Teens (entering 6th grade to entering 12th grade): Read for 12 hours.
Everyone birth to age 18 who signs up for and completes the summer reading challenge will receive a prize package that includes:
- Prize Book of your choice
- 1 pass to Rock River Rapids (child, adult combo pass)
- Coupon good for two games of bowling from Derby Bowling
- One entry to win the grand prize for their age group
*Prize availability may be limited due to facilities not being open, per Covid-19 Guidelines.
Click here to register and download the reading log.
Goddard Public Library
This year’s theme Tales and Tails. The Summer Reading is for All ages: Pre-readers, Kids, Teens and Adults! Earn FUN prizes for reading! The Goddard Public Library summer reading programs are free and open to the public.
Registration begins June 1st. Kick-off Party is June 3rd from 10am-Noon.
All minutes read, will be logged through Beanstack. All participates will create an account through Beanstack. Listed below are the instructions.
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Use the app store for your phone or tablet to search for and install the “Beanstack Tracker” app from Zoobean, Inc.
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After installing it, (1) Answer “Yup” to, Does your school, library or Bookstore already use Beanstack?
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(2)Search for Goddard Public Library (3)Then click on “Don’t Have an Account? Sign Up!” and enter a username and password of your choice.
Or on a computer you can also use the browser version at goddardlibrary.beanstack.org
If you have trouble with registering staff will be happy to help. Which program should my child enroll in?
Pre-Readers: Birth-Age 3 (read or be read to 20 books total)
Junior Readers: Ages 3-5 (read or be read to 50 books total)
Ages 5-12 (read 800 minutes total)
Teens: Ages 13-18 (read 800 minutes total)
Adult: Ages 18+ (read 600 minutes total)
Click here to register and for more information, including prizes!
Half-Priced Books
This June and July 2021:
- NEW! Reading Logs: All logs will be turned in virtually this year and reading rewards sent via email!
- NEW! Weekly Printable Activities: Each week we will offer a brand new printable activity sheet for your young readers, including mazes, coloring sheets, word searches and more!
- NEW! Donation Drive: This year, we’re asking you to help us share the love of reading all summer long. Booklovers can collect their previously read books and donate in-store in June and July to help other young readers in need through our donations program!
- NEW! A Super Special Giveaway: Join us May 31 for a super special Giveaway reveal! You can follow us on social and JOIN the email list for the super special announcement!
Haysville Public Library
Summer Reading sign-ups begin on Monday, May 10th for funny tales and furry tails! We will be using Reader Zone this year. You can register for Reader Zone by going to your app store on your phone and searching for “Reader Zone”. Install the app and make an account. Add your reader(s) and join our reading program with our code: 8c550.
The Summer Reading program begins on Tuesday, June 1st.
Throughout Summer Reading there will be performances outside at the stage at Riggs Park. All Performances will be on Wednesday at 10 am. All performances are free to attend and open to all ages.
June 2 – Mad Science of Kansas City
June 23 – Laughing Matters
June 30 – Happy Faces Entertainment
Each week of Summer Reading, there will be a crafts posted on the website, as well as free movies in the community room, summer workshops, and a stuffed animal sleepover.
Click here for more information.
Mulvane Public Library
Download the ReadSquared app to your phone to participate!
Or go to the website: www.mulvanelibrary.readsquared.com
Carson Bank funded this reading program. This first official week to pick up prizes is June 1st. So when you sign up (you can starting May 21st), we encourage you to read, but the first-week prizes won’t be available until June 1st.
This challenge is available to Children, Teens, and Adults. Please keep track of your reading time because we track our program through minutes read. If your child is too young to read (or your little brother or sister), we encourage you to read to them (it counts for both of you!). Audiobooks, comic books, magazines, internet articles, rereading books – they all count! So read the way you love to read!
There will also be crafts each week for kids, teens, and adults. Plus a story walk in downtown Mulvane. And don’t forget all the summer events!
Click here for more information.
Newton Public Library
Summer Reading Program officially kicks off June 1, and continues through the end of July! Registration is open now: Visit, email [email protected], or call 316-283-2890 to sign up.
Reading Rewards for kids
- Choose your own reading goal!
- The library will provide colorful progress sheets. Track your progress in minutes read, or books read.
- Return your progress sheets at the end of the summer to earn a prize!
Outdoor StoryTime
Starting June 1, TWO weekly outdoor StoryTimes will be held in Military Park. These animal-themed events will feature singing, dancing, crafts, and, of course, stories!
A StoryTime for children ages 1-5 will be held each Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. A StoryTime for children ages 6-9 will be held each Thursday at 10:30 a.m. In the event of bad weather, StoryTime will be canceled.
Other Events
There will be a children’s garden that kids can help water and week. There will be activity packets for families to pick up.
Teen Reading Program
- Complete the weekly reading goal (100 minutes) to earn a free book every week!
- Complete the summer goal (1,000 minutes) to earn a gift card!
- Record your reading on the Reader Zone app, or email it to Sharon, [email protected].
Book Discussions
Sign up to borrow the selected books from the library, then join other teens and tweens for an outdoor discussion in Military Park! All discussions are held on Saturdays at 10 a.m., with free breakfast goodies. Participants will earn entries for prize drawings at the end of the summer.
- June 5: Read and discuss Warriors: Into the Wild, by Erin Hunter.
- June 19: Read and discuss Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo.
- July 3: Read and discuss Redwall by Brian Jacques
- July 17: Read and discuss Crenshaw, by Katherine Applegate.
Click here for more information.
Park City Public Library
The summer reading program for kids hasn’t been released yet, but you can download their 2021 Reading Challenge – anyone can participate. This might be a fun summer reading challenge for your book worm teenagers.
Click here to find out more and print off the 2021 Reading Challenge list.
Pizza Hut Book It Program
Camp Book It is their parent-led summer reading program and newsletter. Earn free pizzas!
Click here for more information.
Rose Hill Public Library
We are so excited for the 2021 Summer Reading Program happening through June and July! We look forward to reading with you! Sign up at the library and get your reading logs to track your reading with us this summer.
Click the link below to see our Summer Schedule!
2021 Rose Hill Public Library Summer Schedule
The Pop Corner
The start of summer break brings with it many things to look forward to! Often times, continuing to learn and read is not high up on the list of kids summer priorities.
That is why we created our Summer Reading Book Club. Children ages 5-15 can tally their books that they read. Each time they fill up one of our summer book club forms they earn a free bag of our gourmet buttered popcorn!
The book club forms will be available starting this week at both locations. Simply POP in to The Popcorner, grab a form and get to reading! Challenge your kids to earn as many free bags of buttered popcorn that they can this summer
The Wichita Public Library
Explore, create and learn this summer at the Wichita Public Library! We’ll explore “Tails and Tales” with the Summer Reading Program June 1-July 29, 2021. Read books, win cool prizes and participate in exciting programs both virtually and in person.
Reading logs are divided by age groups:
- Baby Bookworms Ages 0-2
- Kids Read Ages 3-11
- Teens Read Ages 12-18
Use the Library’s reading app, Beanstack, to track your progress from your smartphone or tablet.
The more you read, the more prizes you earn! Prizes will be available for pickup at your Wichita Public Library location beginning July 1.
Note: the Evergreen Branch Library will not be a prize pickup location this year due to its limited service model during renovations.
Check their website for all their fun activities and events, plus to print off the reading logs.
Valley Center Public Library
Summer Reading is nearly here! This year will feature programs and reading challenges for all ages. Register yourself or your child here: On Line Registration for Summer Reading or pick up or print out and return a paper form: Summer Reading 2021 Registration Form.
Paper programming schedules can be picked up at the Library or printed: Summer Reading 2021 Program flyer.
Logs for children grades 0 thru 12 are due no later than July 23 at Library close-of-business. Logs for Adults/Teens are due no later than August 31 at Library close-of-business. Paper Reading Logs can be picked up at the Library or printed:
Summer Tales & Tails Adult and Teen reading challenge
Watermark Bookstore and Cafe
1. Collect your bingo card from Watermark Books or Love of Character (in-store or online)
Bingo for PreK through 2nd Grade
Bingo for 3rd through 5th Grade
2. Get Reading and be sure to mark off the corresponding squares on your bingo card.
3. Once you’ve hit bingo (5 boxes in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line) bring your card into either store and exchange it for a completion prize!
4. Your completed card will then be entered into a drawing for one of the three grand prizes! Join us LIve on Facebook for the grand prize drawing on Thursday, Aug. 5th!
Extra credit: Feel like earning a few more entries? A full card (all 25 squares filled in) will be entered into the grand prize drawing five times!