The Anne West Lindsey District Library is pleased to offer Summer Reading Challenges
for all ages!
To join the challenge and log your activity, pick up a book tracker from the Summer Reading table in the Children’s Room.
Quick Information
- Registration begins on May 26th.
- Summer Reading officially begins on June 1st, which is also the first day prizes can begin being picked up. You may register early, but please note prize pick up does not start until June 1st. The last day to log books is July 18th.
- Challenges are available for Children, Teens, and Adults. Those aged 13 may choose to participate in both Children and Teen reading programs, and those aged 18 may participate in both Teen and Adult reading programs. The children’s challenge is for ages 0-13.
AWL Summer Reading 2026: Plant a Seed, Read
Children’s Programming
Summer Reading Kick Off
We’ll be kicking off our Summer Reading program with an all ages party! Patrons can sign up for summer reading, play games, create things with air dry clay, make buttons, enjoy refreshments, grab a free book, enter a prize drawing, and more!
Storytime
Storytime is every Tuesday at 10 AM and every other Monday at 5:30 PM/Tuesday at 2 PM. This program is best suited for ages 0-5, but all children are welcome. Join us for stories, movement activities, games, crafts, and a snack!
Special Guests
We have some special guests coming out to the library! Join us for a comic book workshop on June 9th, 12-2 PM with Do Art Productions (registration required), a sing along dance party with Celia on July 2nd at 2 PM, and a fascinating animal presentation with Animal Tales on July 7th at 2:30 PM.
Register for the comic book workshop at this link.
Tween Book Club
Children ages 10-13 are invited to join us for a weekly summer book club! Each week will have a new theme and a new list of books to choose from. Participants can read as few or as many as the books as they want (even if they aren’t able to finish a book every single week). Each week will have both chapter book and graphic novel options.
- June 10: Food (book list coming soon)
- June 17: Classics (book list coming soon)
- June 24: Bugs & Insects (book list coming soon)
- July 1: Summer Scares (book list coming soon)
- July 8: Nature (book list coming soon)
ESL Group
Open to all ages. Every Thursday from June 4th-July 16th, 10:30 AM-12 PM. Practice your English skills with other learners and a facilitator! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
More information coming soon!
Knowledge Quest Pop-Up
Missing Knowledge Quest while you wait for it’s return in September? Join us on July 15th, 3:15-4:45 PM for a pop-up version of the program! Activities will include perler beads, bird feeders, marble run, cryptography, and board/card games. This program is best suited for ages 7-13, but all youth are welcome.
Sensory Play
Join us for two hours of sensory-focused play on June 6th, 11 AM-1 PM! We’ll have sensory bins, fidget toys, making sensory bottles, Play-Doh, and more! This program is best suited for ages 0-8, but all youth are welcome.
Youth Arts & Crafts
Anyone ages 18 and under is welcome to join us for a variety of arts and crafts sessions!
June 4th: Painting
June 18th: Fairy Gardens
June 25th: Slime
July 9th: No Sew Tote Bags
July 16th: Legos
All sessions will take place from 1-3 PM.
Food Fun
Join us on June 13th for some food fun as we make and taste test food! These sessions are open to all youth 18 and under, and anyone 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are also welcome to accompany youth over 8 years old as well.
The beginner session is 10:30 AM-12 PM and is recommended for ages 10 and under. We will make fruit and yogurt parfaits and mini pizzas, as well as taste test a variety of cookies.
The advanced session is 1:30-3 PM and is recommended for ages 10-18. We will make no-bake energy balls and cake pops, as well as taste test a variety of Pringles.
Things may get a little messy, so dress accordingly!
Super Smash Bros. Tournament
We’re hosting a Super Smash Bros. Tournament for all ages on June 15th, 5-6:45 PM! All experience levels are welcome, and first and second place will receive prizes!
Rules coming soon
Movie Days
We will have an all ages movie night on June 29th, 5-6:30 PM! We will be watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (rated PG) and attendees will be able to help themselves to a popcorn bar!
On July 13th, from 5-6:45 PM, anyone ages 12-18 can join us for a movie night! Attendees will vote for the movie we’ll be watching (rated PG-13) and can help themselves to a craft bar full of creative activities!
Books & Bites
We’ll have a spread of yummy treats available, and attendees can also grab a free book! The event will also feature a book “tasting” where attendees can explore and try out a variety of books, reflect on their findings, and possibly find something new to read!
Reading Challenge & Prizes
Pick up a reading log sheet in the Children’s Room. Once the sheet is completely filled out (4 hours of reading time), return it to the Summer Reading table in the Children’s Room, collect your prizes, and grab a new sheet! There is no limit, you can fill out as many reading logs as you want! Participants can also earn entries into our grand prize drawings for every log they return.
Badge books are optional and contain ten activities related to the Summer Reading theme. Once children complete all ten activities, they can return the badge book for extra prizes and entries into the grand prize drawings.
All reading log sheets and badge books must be returned by July 18th.
Grand prizes this year include:
- $50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
- 2 Lego Sets (Creator 3-in-1: Wild Animals: Colorful Hummingbird and Minecraft: The Baby Pig House)
- Indoor Kids Tent with Mat and Star Lights
- Nancy Drew Box Set
Important Information:
- All methods and forms of reading count: reading on your own, being read to, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics, graphic novels, road signs, video games with written dialogue, anything and everything!
- Grand prize winners will be chosen and contacted on Monday, July 20th.
- Contact the Youth Services Librarian, Nicole Young, with any questions. She can be reached at by email at nyoung@awlindsey.com or by calling (618) 985-3298 and choosing option 3.