Does your child need an incentive to pick up a book? If so, the public libraries are hosting in-person events and offering reading programs with real-world kid-sized raffle prizes along with stickers, charts, tickets, ice cream, bookmarks, and lots more. Fill your summer with books and fun!
These FREE summer reading programs are a fun way to stay engaged in reading and learning over the summer to keep our little ones’ brains active.
Berkeley Public Library Summer Reading
Read great books this summer through Berkeley Public Library’s summer reading program. This year’s theme is Find Your Voice and Runs from June 2 to August 5, 2023. Sign up online or in person, plus enter a raffle. The program includes lots of book recommendations for kids, teens, and adults. Join the Kick-Off Party on June 10 to enjoy performances, storytime, and raffles. Read more about the summer reading games >
Oakland Summer Reading Challenge
With the theme Read Watch Do, Oakland Public Library’s summer reading program includes in-person events and prizes for days of reading. The program is designed for kids, teens, and adults—so the whole family can participate and enjoy the fun. Summer readers can pick up prizes, like Children’s Fairyland membership or a Nintendo Switch, after completing reading, and are entered into a raffle for even more goodies from local favorites. Don’t miss the many events and activities hosted at the library branches including instrument petting zoos, magic shows, and storytimes. Summer Reading Game for 2023 starts May 27 and ends August 5. Find out more about the Oakland summer reading program >
Free storytimes at the library and around the East Bay >>
Alameda Free Library Summer Reading
The Alameda Free Library asks readers of all ages (adults and teens can play, too!) to complete hours of reading to earn program prizes from local businesses, like Tucker’s Ice Cream and SubPar Mini Golf. Readers keep track of their progress using Beanstack, an online service that tracks reading and reading challenges. Like several other libraries in the area, the challenge’s theme is Find Your Voice. The program runs from June 1 through July 31, 2023. Visit the library’s site to get all the details and register >Â
San Leandro Public Library Challenge
San Leandro Public Library’s summer reading program offers library games for all ages. Once participants have earned 80 points by visiting a library, reading a book, or completing a learning activity based on a unique theme—kids win prizes from books to pizza. Audiobooks and OverDrive ebooks qualify. Don’t miss the exciting in-library events. San Leandro’s reading challenge’s theme is also Find Your Voice. It runs from June 3 to August 1, 2023. See more about San Leandro’s summer reading program here.
Coolest things to check out from the library >>
Alameda County Library Summer Reading Adventure
Readers of all ages and abilities can participate in Summer Adventure, a reading challenge hosted at Alameda County Library branches. This year’s theme is Summer Adventure. Readers finish books and complete learning activities to receive a book gift and prize drawing entries! The program also features adventure- and nature-themed events, such as a reptile show. Alameda County Library reading program’s dates are June 1 to August 15, 2023. Read more and register >
Contra Costa County Summer Reading
Contra Costa County Library offers a program for all ages, with the theme: Find Your Voice. Readers of all ages can register for activities and challenges to feed their imagination and explore new skills. Every completed entry is eligible for a free book and a chance to win prizes. The Contra Costa County 2023 reading program runs from June 1 to August 5, 2023. Register online and learn more >Â
Richmond Public Library Summer Reading
Richmond Public Library offers a program for readers of all levels. Children can register for activities and challenges for a chance to win great prizes like tickets to an A’s game. There will also be exciting in-person events. Register online through Beanstack >
Have your kids played any of these games in summers’ past? Do other towns offer similar incentive plans that we missed?
