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)
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!
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Alexandria Library Art Show
Summer Reading Finale: Cupcake Decorating
Teen Summer Reading Finale: Taste Test Challenge
Teen Summer Reading Finale: Art Heist Escape Room
Teen Summer Reading Finale: After Hours Mini Lock In
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Alexandria Library Art Show
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
On the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains with Pria Anand
Virtual Science Talk: The Stories, Science and History of Birds with Jay Falk
Digital Connect: Newport Branch- For Ages 60+
Newport Book Club: 'Listen for the Lie' by Amy Tintera
Digital Connect: Newport Branch- For Ages 60+
Digital Connect: Newport Branch- For Ages 60+
Must Read Romance: YA Romance—Summer Vacation
Spotlight Series: 'Benefactors of Posterity: The Founding Era of the Filson Historical Society 1884-1899' with Daniel Gifford
Tween Book Club: School
Digital Connect: Fort Thomas Branch- For Ages 60+
Challenging Reads Book Club: 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia Butler
Coffee & Conversation: 'The Six' by Loren Grush
Digital Connect: Fort Thomas Branch- For Ages 60+
Manga to Anime Club: Assassination Classroom by Yusei Matsui
Cup of Crime: 'Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers' by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Digital Connect: Fort Thomas Branch- For Ages 60+
Spotlight Series: History of Trains in Kentucky with Bob Hamilton of the La Grange Railroad Museum
Books and Brunch Book Club: 'The Kamogawa Food Detectives' by Hisashi Kashiwai
You've Been Booked: 'The Red Pyramid' by Rick Riordan
Tuesday Book Club: 'Velvet Was the Night' by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Digital Connect: Alexandria Branch- For Ages 60+
Cam's Kids Book Club: 'Golden Gate- Building the Mighty Bridge' by Elizabeth Partridge
Digital Connect: Alexandria Branch- For Ages 60+
Board of Trustees Meeting
Virtual Author Talk: Casey McQuiston - Returning to Romance Through Food and Flirty Fun in Fiction
Homeschool Book to Movie Club: 'The Wild Robot' by Peter Brown
Digital Connect: Alexandria Branch- For Ages 60+
Spotlight Series: The Unknown Legend of the Cincinnati Strangler with J.T. Townsend
Digital Connect: Cold Spring Branch- For Ages 60+
Digital Connect: Cold Spring Branch- For Ages 60+
Virtual Author Talk: Organizational Psychologist Dr. Tash Eurich - 'How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos'
Digital Connect: Cold Spring Branch- For Ages 60+
Senior Planet: Intro to Sleep Technologies
Newport Book Club: Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson
Bridges to Healthcare Careers
Virtual Author Talk with Hannah Nicole Maehrer: On Writing Darkly Charming Villainous Love
DIY Fidget Bracelets
Must Read Romance: Pirate Romance
Dungeons & Dragons
Northern Kentucky Health Department Mobile Unit
Uke Can Play the Ukulele
Design Your Own Puzzle
Minecraft Club
Homeschool Hangout: Giant Games
Community Conversation: Shaping Our Region's Future
Youth First: state-wide initiative to support those 16-24 years of age in accessing employment opportunities
Ice Cream Spaghetti
DIY wood coasters
Registration Required
Rough Draft Collab Writer's Club
Take and Make: Spy Code Craft
Cozy Time for Babies
Baby Bounce and Rhyme
Northern Kentucky Health Department Mobile Unit
Virtual Author Talk: Jefferson Fisher- Argue Less and Talk More
Coffee & Conversation: 'Yellowface' by R.F. Kuang
Manga to Anime Club: 'The Seven Deadly Sins' by Nakaba Suzuki
Author Talk & Paint: "Tropetails"
Cup of Crime: 'The Woman in the Library' by Sulari Gentill
Baby Time with Melodies to Grow On
Baby Wigglers
Storytime with Urban Native Collective
Community Conversation: Shaping Our Region's Future
Tween Book Club: Animal Main Character
Dungeons & Dragons for Teens
Puppy Tales
You've Been Booked: 'Two Degrees' by Alan Gratz
Monday Night Movie: A Minecraft Movie
Tuesday Bookclub: The Lion Women of Tehran
Homeschool Hive: A Rabbit is a Mammal
Homeschool Hive: Rabbit Families
Talking Tech Troubles: Streaming Services
Cam's Kids Book Club: 'Up, Up, Ever Up Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda'
Light-Up Bookmarks
Challenging Reads Book Club: 'Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood
Cozy Time for Babies
Baby Bounce and Rhyme
Virtual Author Talk: Gabe Henry- Our failed Attempts to Make English Eezier to Spell
Bedazzled Craft
Board of Trustees Meeting
Baby Wigglers
Homeschool Book to Movie Club: 'Star Wars: A New Hope The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy' by Alexandra Bracken
Clay Crafts of India
Mini Book Charm
Flower Pen Bouquets
Family Roblox Club
Teen Hangout: Textured Canvas Painting
Beaded Succulents
Supported Story Time
DIY Felt Flowers
Clay trinket dish
Easing into Home Ownership
DIY Felt Flowers (Repeat Program)