Does your child need an incentive to pick up a book? If so, Bay Area Public Libraries are hosting in-person events and offering reading programs with real-world kid-sized raffle prizes along with badges, tickets, pizza, 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. Most libraries are now using Beanstack to facilitate their summer reading programs. You can create an account for each member of the family, track reading, engage in activities, earn badges, and get customized reading recommendations.
Pro tip: if you already have a school Beanstack account you can link it to your local library’s reading challenge. Learn more about Beanstack >
Berkeley Public Library Summer Challenge
Read great books this summer through Berkeley Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. This year’s Read, Renew, Repeat challenge runs from May 31 to July 31, 2024. Sign up through Beanstack, then log your summer reading activities and apply tickets toward prize drawings. The program includes lots of book recommendations for kids, teens, and adults. Join the Summer Kick-Off Party on June 8 to enjoy food, crafts, and dancing. Read more about the summer reading challenge >
Oakland Summer Reading Challenge
Oakland Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge 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. Sign up through Beanstack and after completing books, summer readers can enter a raffle to pick up prizes and other goodies from local favorites. Don’t miss the many events and activities hosted at the library branches including an instrument petting zoo, insect discovery labs, magic shows, and storytimes. The Summer Reading Challenge for 2024 starts May 25 and ends August 3. Find out more about the Summer Programs at the Oakland Public Library >
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 badges and prizes. Readers can keep track of their progress, participate in challenges, earn incentives, and discover great books using Beanstack. This year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme is Find Your Voice and the program runs from June 1 through July 31, 2024. Join the Main Library for a Summer Reading Kick-Off Party on June 1 to enjoy games, crafts, and a family dance party. Visit the library’s site to get all the details and register >Â
San Leandro Public Library Challenge
San Leandro Public Library’s Summer Library Program, Learn, Grow, and Explore, offers library activities for all ages. Pick up a paper booklet at any branch or join using Beanstack. Once participants have earned 80 points by visiting a library, reading a book, or completing a learning activity, they can spend it on the prize board. They will also receive an invitation to a special finisher event, a free swim pass, pizza, and a free youth admission to Lawrence Hall of Science. The challenge runs from June 1 to July 31, 2024. See more about San Leandro’s Summer Library Program here >
Coolest things to check out from the library >>
Alameda County Library Summer 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 Engaging the Senses. Readers finish books and complete engaging activities to receive a book gift and prize drawing entries! Alameda County Library reading program’s dates are June 1 to August 1, 2024. Join the Albany Library for a Kick-Off Party on June 1 to enjoy games, crafts, snacks, and prizes, and to pick up your Summer Adventure Guide. Read more and register >
Contra Costa County Summer Reading
Contra Costa County Library offers a program for all ages, also with the theme: Read, Renew, and Repeat. Readers of all ages can register through Beanstack, or pick up a reading passport to track activities and challenges that help keep our planet thriving. Every completed entry is eligible for a free book and a chance to win prizes. The Contra Costa County 2024 reading program runs from June 1 to August 3, 2024. Register online and learn more >Â
Richmond Public Library Summer Reading
Richmond Public Library’s Summer Reading Program starts June 14 and runs till August 17, 2024. They will offer activities, challenges and exciting in-person events for all ages. Stay tuned for more details about their upcoming 2024 program.
Honorable Mention: Cal Summer Reading Challenge
Not technically a library reading program but we thought it was worth mentioning. Cal Football’s Ready, Set, Read Summer Reading Challenge encourages kids of all ages to continue reading over the summer. Download the summer reading journal to track your reading progress. Turn in your completed journal by August 25 to receive 2 free tickets to the Cal vs UC Davis football game. Learn more here >
Have your kids played any of these games in summers past? Do other towns offer similar incentive plans that we missed?
