Summer Reading
All ages can track their reading online to win prizes all summer long!
Due to the coronavirus, our annual summer reading program looks a little different this year than in years past. The program is entirely online. See below for lots of ways to participate, have fun and earn prizes!
Register on Beanstack
Use Beanstack to register online for Summer Reading. Beanstack is a website and app that allows you to track your reading and earn prizes by participating in reading challenges. You can register as an individual, family or classroom. Visit our Beanstack page to create your account and learn more.
Register on Beanstack
Read & Win
Children (Newborn – Age 11)
How to Participate:
Read (or be read to) four hours to enter weekly drawings for gift cards. Receive an entry for the grand prize for every four hours read. You can track and submit hours online through Beanstack.
There will be four winners each week for the weekly gift card drawings and four winners for the grand prize.
- Weekly Prize
- $20 gift cards to Target or Amazon
- Grand Prize
- Six-month subscription to Kiwi Crates (STEAM & Science Kits for Kids)
Teens & Tweens (Ages 11 – 19)
How to Participate:
Read five hours to enter weekly drawings for themed prize packs and to receive an entry for the midsummer prize. Read 30 hours to win a book and an entry for the grand prize. You can track and submit hours online through Beanstack.
There will be four winners each week for the weekly prize packs. There will also be four winners for the midsummer prize and grand prize.
- Weekly Prize Themes
- Electronics Week: June 6 – 13
- Board Games Week: June 14 – 20
- Chill & Relax Week: June 21 – 27
- Musical Week: June 28 – July 4
- #Trending Week: July 5 – 11
- Sports Week: July 12 – 18
- Fandom Week: July 19 – 25
- Art Week: July 26 – 31
- Midsummer Prize
- Fujifilm Instax Camera
- Grand Prize
- Amazon Fire Tablet
Adults
How to Participate:
Read five hours to enter weekly drawings for gift cards. You will also receive an entry for the midsummer prize and grand summer prize for every five hours read. You can track and submit hours online through Beanstack.
There will be four winners each week for the weekly gift card drawings. There will also be four winners for the midsummer prize and grand prize.
- Weekly Prize
- $20 gift cards to a variety of places. Smashburger, Home Depot, Amazon and Starbucks are just a few!
- Midsummer Prize
- $50 Target gift card
- Grand Prize
- $100 Target gift card
Online Programs
Unfortunately, we will not be able to have our Summer Reading Kickoff, Jolly Thursdays, Tower Tuesdays or other programs at our branches this summer. Don’t worry though! We have lots of online programs planned that you can enjoy from home.
Our online programs are primarily divided into three different types: Take & Make programs, Zoom programs and YouTube programs.
Take & Make Programs
Registration is required for these virtual programs. The programs include Take & Make bags that will provide everything you need to participate. Take & Make bags must be picked up three days prior to the program for those who have registered unless arrangements have been made.
The tutorial for each program will be available on the designated program date and time by visiting https://www.cc-pl.org/articles.
Zoom Programs
These are live programs that will be conducted via Zoom, a free online video conferencing platform. Registration is required. On the day of the program, we will email you with the link to join the live program. You are not required to have a Zoom account.
YouTube Programs
These programs will be released on our YouTube channel on the program date and time listed. Story times, yoga and a tour of the animals at Good Green Earth Farm are just a few of the ones we have planned. There is no need to register for these programs. However, you can sign up to receive an email reminder for the program so you can make sure you don’t miss it!
Our YouTube Channel
View the Schedule
Start planning your summer of virtual fun by browsing our upcoming programs below!
Teen Game Night
Registration Required
Friday, April 26, 2024, 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Day of the Book/El Día de los Libros
Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Managing Personal Memories Series: Part Three
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Monday, April 29, 2024, 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm
Alexandria Branch
Virtual Author Talk with Douglas Brut: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I
Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 3:00 pm
Digital
DIY Squishies
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Thursday, May 2, 2024, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Must Read Romance: Fantasy Romance- Fae/Fairies
Registration Required
Thursday, May 2, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch Curbside Only Starting at 5pm Due to Arts and Culture Event
Friday, May 3, 2024, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Arts & Culture: Bella Musica with Summermusik
Registration Required
Friday, May 3, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Kitchen Canvas Art
Registration Required
Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Kitchen Canvas Art (Repeat Program)
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Newport Book Club: 'Get Well Soon—History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them' by Jennifer Wright
Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newport Branch
Coffee & Conversation: 'The Old Woman with the Knife' by Gu Byeong-mo
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Manga to Anime Club: 'Demon Slayer—Kimetsu no Yaiba' by Koyoharu Gotouge
Registration Required
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Alexandria Branch
Therapy Animals with Teens
Registration Required
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Cup of Crime: 'The Thursday Murder Club' by Richard Osman
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Virtual Author talk with Nina Simon: A Murder Mystery, Family Story & Love Letter to Strong Women Everywhere
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Digital
If You Give a Kid a Book Club: 'Cece Loves Science' by Kimberly Derting
Registration Required
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Tween Book Club: 'Some Places More than Others' by Renee Watson
Registration Required
Friday, May 10, 2024, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Newport Branch
The Book Bus at the Mother's Day Garden Market
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
All Locations
Memories: Physical to Digital
Registration Required
Monday, May 13, 2024, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newport Branch
Talking Tech Troubles: Reading Apps & Resources
Registration Required
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Game Show Tournament
Registration Required
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Homeschool Book to Movie Club: 'A Series of Unfortunate Event—The Bad Beginning' by Lemony Snicket
Registration Required
Thursday, May 16, 2024, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Learning how to play Mah-jongg
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Thursday, May 16, 2024, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch Curbside Only Starting at 5pm Due to Arts and Culture Event
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Sunday, May 19, 2024, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Arts & Culture: MUSE Choir Presents 'emBODY Diversity'
Registration Required
Friday, May 17, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
The Book Bus at the Early Literacy Play Date
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
All Locations
Books and Brunch Book Club: 'The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' by Stuart Turton
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Alexandria Branch
Macrame Daisy Keychains
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Monday, May 20, 2024, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newport Branch
Tuesday Book Club: 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmus
Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Cold Spring Branch
Cam's Kids Book Club: 'Molly's Tuxedo' by Vicki Johnson
Registration Required
Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Alexandria Branch
City Barbeque Food for Thought Series: Radical Republicanism in High Renaissance Florence - The Tragedy of Girolamo Savonarola
Registration Required
Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Challenging Reads Book Club: 'This One Summer' by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
Registration Required
Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newport Branch
Virtual Author Talk with Rebecca F. Kuang: Asian American Representation in Literature
Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 7:00 pm
Digital
Cozy Crafting: Book Nooks
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Thursday, May 23, 2024, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Alexandria Branch
Real Men Read: 'The Holdout' by Graham Moore
Thursday, May 23, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch Curbside Only Starting at 5pm Due to Arts and Culture Event
Friday, May 24, 2024, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Arts & Culture Family Night: Northern Kentucky University String Project
Registration Required
Friday, May 24, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Virtual Author Talk: Smithsonian Curator Matthew Shindell on the Human History of the Red Planet
Monday, June 3, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Digital
Pokémon Perler Party
Registration Required
Monday, June 3, 2024, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Alexandria Branch
Tower Tuesday: Honey Hill Farm Mobile Petting Zoo
Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Fort Thomas - Tower Park
Summer Reading Kickoff: Build-Your-Own Adventure Kit
Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Summer Reading Kickoff: Become a Wanderer with The Hills of the Kentucky Dulcimers
Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Rough Draft Collab Writer's Club
Registration Required
Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Around the World in 6 Cups with Churchill’s Teas
Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Newport Book Club: 'Black Cake' by Charmaine Wilkerson
Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newport Branch
The Book Bus on Tour: Popsicles with Puppies & Duckies
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
All Locations
Cozy Time for Babies
Registration Required
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Jolly Thursday: Kentucky Reptile Zoo
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Alexandria - AJ Jolly Park
Baby Wigglers
Registration Required
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Summer Reading Kickoff: Adventure is Out There!
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Alexandria Branch
Board Game Bonanza
Registration Required
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Crystal Cave Crafts
Registration Required
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Must Read Romance: New Adult Romance
Registration Required
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Summer Reading Kickoff: WAVE Foundation presents Tide Pool
Registration Required
Friday, June 7, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Puppy Tales
Registration Required
Saturday, June 8, 2024, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Flamingo Snow Globes
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Monday, June 10, 2024, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newport Branch
Tower Tuesday: Talewise Science Heroes presents 'Adventure of the Lost Treasure'
Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Fort Thomas - Tower Park
Adventure Sash Decorating
Registration Required
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Alexandria Branch
Stage Combat Workshop
Registration Required
Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Take & Make: Hot Air Balloons
Registration Required
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Newport Branch
Cozy Time for Babies
Registration Required
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Coffee & Conversation: 'Met the End' by Holly Brians Ragusa
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Manga to Anime Club: 'Komi Can't Communicate' by Tomohito Oda
Registration Required
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Alexandria Branch
Self Defense Workshop
Registration Required
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Cup of Crime: 'The Woman in Cabin 10' by Ruth Ware
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Jolly Thursday: Kentucky Shakespeare presents - Romeo and Juliet
Thursday, June 13, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Alexandria - AJ Jolly Park
Baby Wigglers
Registration Required
Thursday, June 13, 2024, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
If You Give a Kid a Book Club: 'Song in the City' by Daniel Bernstorm
Registration Required
Thursday, June 13, 2024, 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Virtual Author Talk with Freida McFadden: Psychological Thrillers and the Queen of Twists
Thursday, June 13, 2024, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Digital
Cryptid Crafts: Mothman Sock Plush
Registration Required
Friday, June 14, 2024, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Alexandria Branch
Tween Book Club: 'The Lion of Mars' by Jennifer L. Holm
Registration Required
Friday, June 14, 2024, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Newport Branch
Dungeons & Dragons
Registration Required
Friday, June 14, 2024, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
The Book Bus at the Silver Grove Touch a Truck
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Silver Grove - Chief Sayers Park
Family Roblox Club
Registration Required
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Books and Brunch Book Club: 'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Alexandria Branch
Take & Make: Wooden Bird Feeders
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Monday, June 17, 2024, All Day
Cold Spring Branch
DIY Decoupage Map Coasters
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Monday, June 17, 2024, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Alexandria Branch
Beginning Woodworking
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Monday, June 17, 2024, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Custom Fidget Spinners
Registration Required
Monday, June 17, 2024, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Cold Spring Branch
Jewel and Flower Soaps
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Monday, June 17, 2024, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newport Branch
Tuesday Book Club: 'The Paris Apartment' by Lucy Foley
Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Cold Spring Branch
Tower Tuesday: Foam-tastic Party!
Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Fort Thomas - Tower Park
Talking Tech Troubles: Smart Watches & Fitness Trackers
Registration Required
Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Cam's Kids Book Club: 'Hidden Gem' by Linda Liu
Registration Required
Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Alexandria Branch
Challenging Reads Book Club: 'Flamer' by Mike Curato
Registration Required
Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newport Branch
Jolly Thursday: Bright Star Theatre presents - Storybook Tales
Thursday, June 20, 2024, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Alexandria - AJ Jolly Park
Baby Wigglers
Registration Required
Thursday, June 20, 2024, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Hot Air Balloon Lantern
Registration Required
Thursday, June 20, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Virtual Author Talk with Tiffany Jewell: A History of Systemic Racism in the American Education System
Thursday, June 20, 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Digital
Hot Air Balloon Lantern (Repeat Program)
Attendance FULL/Waitlist Available
Registration Required
Registration Required
Thursday, June 20, 2024, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Teen Game Night
Registration Required
Friday, June 21, 2024, 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch
Avatar: the Last Airbender Party
Registration Required
Saturday, June 22, 2024, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Alexandria Branch