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!
Build a Terrarium
Registration Required
Senior Planet: Virtual Classes & Tech Help- Available 24/7
Improve Reading Skills with a NKU Tutor on Mondays and Wednesdays in April
Must Read Romance: Romantasy
Homeschool Hive: Be your own boss! Session Two
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch is Curbside Only Starting at 5 pm Due to Arts & Culture Event
Arts and Culture: Kentucky Symphony Orchestra—Floodwall Jazz Quartet
Improve Reading Skills with a NKU Tutor on Mondays and Wednesdays in May
Pressed Flower Lanterns
Registration Required
Newport Book Club: 'Cassandra in Reverse' by Holly Smale
Virtual Author Talk with Dr. David H. Rosmarin: How to Use Anxiety to Thrive
Shrinky Dink Keychains
Senior Planet: Gardening Tech at a Glance
Homeschool Hive: Be your own boss! Session Three
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch is Curbside Only Starting at 5 pm Due to Arts & Culture Event
Arts and Culture: Silver's Serenade—A Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra Tribute to Horace Silver
Flower Wall Art
Registration Required
Rough Draft Collab Writer's Club
Improve Reading Skills with a NKU Tutor on Mondays and Wednesdays in May
Coffee & Conversation: 'The Wager' by David Grann
Manga to Anime Club: 'Bleach' by Tite Kubo
Tween Game Night
Cup of Crime: 'The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp' by Leonie Swann
Virtual Author Talk with Liann Zhang: Writing a Brilliant, Dark, and Diabolical Thriller
Homeschool Book to Movie Club: 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' by Roald Dahl
Registration Required
Water Bottle Decorating
Recipe Boxes and Recipe Swap (Repeat Program)
Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch is Curbside Only from 1-7 pm Reopening for Arts & Culture Event
Arts and Culture: Summermusik Brass Quintet
Books and Brunch Book Club: 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' by Shelby Van Pelt
Flower Tealight Centerpiece
Registration Required
Tuesday Book Club: 'Everything I Never Told You' by Celeste Ng
Talking Tech Troubles: Reading Apps & Resources
Cam's Kids Book Club: 'The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem' by Colleen Paeff
City Barbeque Food for Thought: Antique Showcase with Dr. Brian Hackett
Registration Required
Challenging Reads Book Club: 'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeleine L'Engle
Virtual Author Talk with Rachelle Bergstein: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
Homeschool Hive: Be your own boss! Session Four
Colorful Squishies
Gardening for Small Spaces
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
(Un)common Ground- A Reader's Theatre Production and Opening Reception for Exploring Human Origins.
Registration Required
Improve Reading Skills with a NKU Tutor on Mondays and Wednesdays in May
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?
Summer Reading Kickoff: Trash to Treasure - Recycled Crafts
Summer Reading Kickoff: Makerspace Market
Improve Reading Skills with a NKU Tutor on Mondays and Wednesdays in June
Summer Reading Kickoff - Tower Tuesday: Honey Hill Farm Mobile Petting Zoo
Summer Reading Kickoff: Creativity Lab
Summer Reading Kickoff: Explore Pottery and Weaving
Newport Book Club: 'First Lie Wins ' by Holly Smale
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Cozy Time for Babies
Summer Reading Kickoff - The Book Bus on Tour: Bubble Bonanza
Summer Reading Kickoff: Family Art Festival
Neurodiverse Craft Club: Friendship Bracelets
Baby Wigglers
Summer Reading Kickoff - Jolly Thursday: Madcap Puppets presents: Monsters of Baseball
Summer Reading Kickoff: Tune into Reading!
Optical Illusion Art
Must Read Romance: Diverse Romance
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Educator Workshop- Exploring Evolution for Science Educators
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Exploring Human Origins for Clergy and Religious leaders
Exploring Human Origins a Community Converation
Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Take & Make Family Road Trip
Registration Required
Articulated Dragon Puppets
Crystal Rainclouds
Registration Required
Tower Tuesday: Lexington Children's Theater
Cardboard Rainbow Collage
Cozy Time for Babies
Coffee & Conversation: 'The House on Mango Street' by Sandra Cisneros
Manga to Anime Club: 'Hunter x Hunter' by Yoshihiro Togashi
Cup of Crime: 'The Maid' by Nita Prose
Baby Wigglers
Senior Planet: Introduction to Booking Vacation Stays Online
Cincinnati Museum Center: Evolution of Diversity
Intro to Knitting
Evolution of Diversity- Children's Program with Cincinnati Museum Center
Paint Your Own D&D figurines
Tween Book Club: Travel
Dungeons and Dragons and New Systems Galore!
Beatles for Babies
Puppy Tales
Soda Bottle Terrariums
Improve Reading Skills with a NKU Tutor on Mondays and Wednesdays in June
Tuesday Book Club: 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Talking Tech Troubles: Introduction to Canva
Cam's Kids Book Club: 'They Built Me for Freedom' by Tonya Duncan Ellis
Challenging Reads Book Club: 'We Are Okay' by Nina LaCour
Cozy Time for Babies
The Book Bus on Tour: Fairy Tale Tea Party
Cross-Stitch for Beginners
Dungeons & Dragons for Teens
Family Roblox Club
Books and Brunch Book Club: 'Hello Beautiful' by Ann Napolitano
Book Hedgehogs
Registration Required
Patriotic Mason Jar Craft
Beginning Writing Workshop with Cherie Dawn Haas
Cozy Time for Babies
The Book Bus on Tour: Penick's Petting Farm
Neurodiverse Craft Club: Aqua Beads
Baby Wigglers
Jolly Thursday: Science Heroes presents: Adventure of the Missing Color
Silk Painting (Repeat Program)