Summer Reading

Summer Reading is almost here – and it’s jam-packed with fun activities and giveaways throughout June and July!
Summer Reading Kickoff
Summer Reading kicks off Saturday, June 5 with registration opening at 9 am for our Cold Spring, Carrico/Fort Thomas and Newport Branches while Alexandria opens at 11 am.
Register at the library and you may go home with cool giveaways, while supplies last. Children will receive a backpack; teens will get a reusable water bottle complete with a built-in straw; and adults will score a flashlight pen.
Grab-and-go treat bags filled with snacks will also be available at noon at all branches.
Come out or tune in to the library’s YouTube channel for a variety of kick-off activities, including:
- Eating Gross Food Face-Off @ Cold Spring, 11 am. Register to attend in-person.
- Low Mess Finger Painting @ Newport, 1 pm. Register to attend in-person.
- Arrowhead Reptile Rescue @ Carrico/Fort Thomas, 3 pm. Register to attend in-person.
Facebook Event
Summer Reading
SUMMER READING STARTS SATURDAY, JUNE 5!
Crawl, slither, soar or dive into the library’s Summer Reading program. With the theme Wild About Books, this year is all about animals and habitats they call home.
There’s something for everyone in the family – from dreaming up a fantasy zoo to drive-in movies featuring everyone’s favorite hedgehog Sonic to creating animal shadow puppets and learning how to keep our oceans clean.
Track your reading with the Beanstack app or a paper log for the chance to win awesome prizes big and small. Register online or at your favorite branch, where you can pick up a log.
Register on Beanstack
Do you prefer online tracking over paper logs? Beanstack is a website and app that allows you to track your reading and earn Summer Reading prizes. You can register as an individual, family or classroom. Visit our Beanstack page to create your account and learn more.
Pre-registration is open!
Register on Beanstack
Read & Win
Children (Newborn – Age 11)
Receive a small prize and one entry for the grand prize for every 4 hours read across formats; books, audiobooks, comics, being read to and reading by yourself all count toward the goal.
The grand prize is a six-month subscription to KiwiCo (STEAM & science kits for kids). One grand prize will be given away per branch and one through Beanstack.
You can track and submit hours online through Beanstack or via paper reading logs at our branches.
Teens & Tweens (Ages 11 – 19)
How to Participate:
Read five hours to enter weekly drawings to score prizes. Read 30 hours to win a book and one entry for the grand prize – a Nintendo Switch Lite.
You can track and submit hours online through Beanstack or via paper reading logs at our branches.
There will be four winners each week for the weekly prize packs. There will be two winners for the midsummer prize and grand prize.
- Weekly Prize Themes
- June 6 – 12: Art
- June 13 -19: Anime
- June 20 – 26: Board and Card Games
- June 27 – July 3:Nerf Toys
- July 4 – 10: Funko Pop!
- July 11 – 17: #Trending and Music
- July 18 – 24: Self Care
- July 25 – 31: D&D and RPG Games
- Midsummer Prize
- Raycon Wireless Earbuds
- Grand Prize
- Nintendo Switch Lite
Adults
At the Library:
Receive an entry for weekly gift card drawings at each branch every time you check out. It’s that easy!
Online:
Four reading prompts per week will be posted on the Beanstack app. Finish one to earn an entry for the grand prize – a $100 Kroger gift card.
Programs
Start planning your summer at the library by browsing our upcoming programs below!
Tower Tuesday: Family concert with BIG BANG BOOM!
Melted Crayon Crafts
Registration Required
Dibuja tu mundo con Raúl the Third (Preescolar a 2.º grado)
Virtual Author Talk: Raúl The Third- Drawing Your World (PK-2nd Grade)
Beaded Wired Maze Sculptures
Registration Required
Cozy Time for Babies
Coffee & Conversation: 'The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride
Manga to Anime Club: 'Spy x Family' by Tatsuya Endo
Cup of Crime: 'The Mystery of Mrs. Christie' by Marie Benedict
Baby Wigglers
Clay Creations
Registration Required
Punch Needle Art (Repeat Program)
Tween Book Club: Summer
Baby Sharkies
Scratch Off CD Suncatchers
Tower Tuesday: Science Heroes presents 'Adventure of the Missing Color'
Talking Tech Troubles: Smartphone Basics
Senior Planet: Artificial Intelligence and Disinformation
Cam's Kids Book Club: Grandpa's Top Threes
Registration Required
Challenging Reads Book Club: 'The House on Mango Street' by Sandra Cisneros
Cozy Time for Babies
Tiny Art Show (Repeat Program)
Baby Wigglers
Homeschool Book to Movie Club: 'A Bear Called Paddington' by Michael Bond
Painting and Popsicles
Registration Required
Virtual Author Talk: Marie Lu- Discerning the Truth (9th-12th Grade)
Teen Tiny Art Show
Polymer Clay Charms
Registration Required
Picture Perfect Painting
Registration Required
Dungeons & Dragons for Teens
Registration Required
Family Roblox Club
Books and Brunch Book Club: 'The Phoenix Crown' by Kate Quinn
Decorative Frames
Registration Required
No Sew T-Shirt Bags
Registration Required
Cozy Time for Babies
The Book Bus on Tour: Color-tastic Extravaganza
Virtual Author Talk: Rex Ogle- Illuminating Hope and Grace in the Face of Hardship (5th-8th Grade)
Neurodiverse Craft Club: Card and Board Games
Nail Art
Baby Wigglers
Jolly Thursday: Honey Hill Farm Mobile Petting Zoo
Chair Yoga with Phoenix
Squirt Gun Painting
Registration Required
Floral Arrangements with Amber of Broken Oaks Farm
Registration Required
Art After Hours: Adult Summer Reading Finale
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
Alexandria Library Art Show
On the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains with Pria Anand
Virtual Science Talk: The Stories, Science and History of Birds with Jay Falk
Newport Book Club: 'Listen for the Lie' by Amy Tintera
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
Challenging Reads Book Club: 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia Butler
Coffee & Conversation: 'The Six' by Loren Grush
Manga to Anime Club: Assassination Classroom by Yusei Matsui
Cup of Crime: 'Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers' by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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
Cam's Kids Book Club: 'Golden Gate- Building the Mighty Bridge' by Elizabeth Partridge
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
Spotlight Series: The Unknown Legend of the Cincinnati Strangler with J.T. Townsend
Virtual Author Talk: Organizational Psychologist Dr. Tash Eurich - 'How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos'
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