Summer Reading 2024

Summer Reading Program "Adventure Begins at Your Library"

Make every day an adventure with the 2024 Summer Reading Program! Adventure to far off places through your imagination and right outside your own front door as you complete your reading challenge. Track your progress, earn your badges, and collect your prizes, plus be entered for a chance to win awesome grand prizes! And there’s even more adventure to be had with amazing programs at the library all summer long!

How does it work?

The Summer Reading Program is available June 1st through August 3rd. It is a self-paced program that can be completed any time before August 3rd.

The program is available to all ages, divided into the following groups:

Ages 0 to 4
Ages 5 to 7
Ages 8 to 12
Ages 13 to 17
Ages 18 and older

After you register, you’ll receive a Summer Reading bag and a paper tracker. For each badge earned, Ages 0-12 will be able to choose a sticker to put on their tracker, and Ages 13-17 can choose a water bottle decal.

Each age group has a reading goal with either a total number of books or minutes to read. The goal is divided into nine milestones; completing each milestone earns an online badge on Beanstack and a ticket to be entered into a grand prize drawing.

Each age group will receive a book for completing their challenge. Ages 0-12 will also receive a Nebraska State Fair pass. Each age group will have several grand prizes, Tickets earned can be divided and entered into various prizes of your choosing. Four bonus badges can also be completed to earn extra grand prize tickets.

Grand prize winners will be drawn on August 5th.

How do I enroll?

Download/Print [PDF] Summer Reading trackers: Babies & Preschool Ages 0-4 | Kids Ages 5-7 | Tweens Ages 8-12 | Teens Ages 13-17 | Adults 18+ beginning June 1st, or pick them up at the library, 2nd floor desk. A staff member will be happy to help you sign up!

You may also register through Beanstack or through the Beanstack app, available on Apple or Android. Its easy-to-use ISBN scan feature allows you to scan the books directly into your log. You can also manage all the readers in your family in one account. After you’ve registered through Beanstack, you can stop by the 2nd floor desk to claim your prizes as you earn badges.

Why should I join the Summer Reading Program?

According to the School Library Journal, summer reading programs help improve kids’ reading skills and their desire to read. Those who take part not only reduce summer learning loss, but they even show improvement, developing an interest in reading, improving their comprehension, and bettering their memory skills.

“Discovering new stories, genres, and authors in a summer reading program can be a game-changer, sparking a lifelong love for reading. You never know which book will inspire you and change the way you see the world.” Scholar Within, 2023

A successful Summer Reading Program involves more than just reading and completing challenges. We also have a summer packed with fun events for kids and families, including a visit from the animals of Wild Encounters, the return of Dinosaur Ranger Anthony and Stomp, Chomp, Roar!, and a live, free concert with The String Beans! Peruse the HPL Events Calendar for a full schedule of upcoming programs.