Summer Reading 2023

The Summer Slide is what happens between school years when kids do not read or otherwise work to retain what they learned in school.

On average, children lose approximately two months of their reading achievement by not reading during the summer. They typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer than they did on the same test at the beginning of the summer.

The Summer Reading Program is a great way to help stop the Summer Slide and have fun at the same time!

How do I prevent the Summer Slide?

Reading for just 20 minutes a day helps kids maintain the reading skills they developed during the school year. Not only will it help them stay on track when school starts back, but with reading, they can stimulate their imaginations and experience inclusivity with our activities themed around the idea of All Together Now this summer!

Sign up for the Summer Reading Program to keep your child reading over the summer. Summer Reading starts June 5 and continues through July 28.

Have your children choose their own books and bring them everywhere: picnics at the park, the doctor's office, road trips. Listen to audiobooks at night or in the car. Reading aloud builds vocabulary skills, while listening builds vocabulary and listening comprehension skills and increases our knowledge, so listening to audiobooks or someone reading aloud benefits everyone.

Whether you visit relatives, enjoy a week at camp, or have a staycation at home, make summer even more fun by reading a little every day and participating in engaging summer activities!

More ways to beat the Summer Slide

• Enroll in our summer reading program. It will provide your child with opportunities to build their critical thinking skills.
• Read every day. Read non-fiction, fiction, eBooks, poetry, or newspapers, or read aloud for at least 20 minutes a day!
• Cook with your children. It's a great way to integrate math, reading, and following directions. Help your child put together their favorite recipes in a cookbook, or let your child design the menu for a meal.
• Create with chalk. Draw, learn letters and shapes and practice spelling words or writing sentences.
• Break out the finger paints. Improve fine motor skills with finger painting fun. Draw, learn letters and shapes, and let your child scribble to their heart's content.
• Camp indoors. Create an indoor camping retreat filled with books, cozy blankets, stuffed animals, and healthy snacks.
• Plant a garden. Your child will learn responsibility as they water and care for their garden. Plus it gets everyone outside in the sunshine!
• Take a field trip. Head out to a museum, zoo, or local park with walking trails. Keep a journal about your travels.
• Learn a new word each week. Hang it on the fridge and see who can use it the most times throughout the week.
• Play quick games with flashcards like Math War or Concentration to keep math skills sharp.
• Listen to audiobooks during your summer road trip.
• Go stargazing. Set out a picnic blanket and wind down before bedtime. Learn about the phases of the moon and identify summer constellations.
• Take pictures and make a summer scrapbook. Encourage your children to write narratives to accompany the pictures.
• Make time to read. We can't stress it enough: if your child does nothing else this summer, make sure they read!

Set a course for any of our locations and sign up to get your Summer Reading Program activity log. You can also find all activity logs available to download below under Downloads & Printables. You can dive into reading challenges and fun activities to do at the Library, at home, and throughout town.

Four different logs are available: Early Literacy (Ages Birth to 5), Children (Ages 6-12), Teen (Ages 13-17), and Adult (Ages 18+). Each has activities the whole family can do together. 

Early Literacy Activity Log (Ages Birth to 5)

Children's Activity Log (Ages 6-12)

Teen Activity Log (Ages 13-18)

Adult Activity Log (Ages 19+)

Step 1: Sign In or Register for an Account on Beanstack

By visiting our online summer reading software you can log in with your account information from previous years. If you are new to our software, you can create a login!

Step 2: Register for All Together Now Summer 2023 Reading Challenge

After signing in and creating a Beanstack account, register for All Together Now Summer 2023 Reading Challenge.

Step 3: Log Reading Minutes and Activities

Keep track of the minutes you read and activities you complete from June 5 through July 28, 2023.

Step 4: Return to Your Local Branch to Collect Prizes.

Earn badges after every completing reading and activities. After each bingo earned, return to your local branch to collect prizes. Finish the entire bingo card for a chance at winning a $25 Amazon Gift Card.