Keeping the summer slide at bay is key for most students.
You can find summer reading programs at the Libraries, Barnes & Noble to keep your reading skills on track and prevent the summer slide.
Our favorite is summer reading at the library. We also do this with a workbook or two that interests us.
Local Libraries are KING at summer reading programs and rewards are a free book (sometimes more) for completing the requirements.
Find Your Local Library Reading Challenge!
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Clearview Libraries in Windsor/Severance
Unearth A Story: A Summer Adventure
Something big is buried beneath the surface...
This summer, we invite you to dig a little deeper.
Inspired by dinosaurs, natural history, exploration, and imagination, our 2026 Summer Adventure Program celebrates curiosity, creativity, and learning in ways that reflect the spirit of our shared experiences.
Across our community, curious minds of all ages will explore, connect, and discover all summer long.
Whether you’re returning to a favorite genre, trying something new, or simply looking for a meaningful way to stay engaged this season, we’re here to make discovery welcoming, accessible, and fun.
Let us unearth something unforgettable.
June 1-July 31, 2026
Registration opens June 1. Check back here to sign up and start your summer adventure!
Program and registration is posted here.
Please visit our events website for more programming information.
Loveland reading program
Unearth a great time at the Loveland Public Library! Join us for the Summer Learning Program
Sign up for the library’s Summer Learning Program and pick up registration prizes for youth participants. Track daily reading May 22 - July 31. Youth earn prizes for days read; adults can win prizes, too. Reading to your kids counts for you and them!
This year’s theme, Unearth a Story, invites readers of every age to dig into books, creativity, and imagination.
Keep an eye out for details at http://loveland.readsquared.com/
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Poudre Libraries reading program
Summer Unearth A Story 2026
Get ready to dig up adventure, explore Jurassic history, and enjoy fun activities with Summer Adventure, Unearth a Story. The adventure is afoot, and concludes on Friday, August 14.
1) Start Your Adventure
Choose a format for completing the adventure.
Digital Tracking:
Sign up on the Beanstack website or download and use the Beanstack Tracker App on Apple App Store or Google Play Store for a convenient online way to track your progress.
Get Beanstack Sign Up Help
Paper Tracking:
Printed Summer Adventure Trackers are available at the libraries and online for download below.
English Summer Adventure Tracker (PDF)
Spanish Summer Adventure Tracker (PDF).
Pick up your Level 1 Signup Prize in person starting May 27. Available while supplies last.
Ages Birth – 17: choose a new, free book from our Summer Adventure display
Ages 18+: pick up a free carabiner
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2) Read & Explore
Choose your adventure! Earn adventure points by reading (one point per day), completing activities on your Summer Adventure tracker (one point per activity), or attending Poudre Libraries and/or City of Fort Collins Natural Areas events and programs (three points per program).
Earn an extra point at Summer Adventure “bonus programs” at the library!
3) Collect a Prize
Collect a Level 2 prize once you’ve earned at least 30 points!
Ages birth – 17: choose another new, free book from the Summer Adventure display
Ages 18+: collect an exclusive Poudre Libraries fanny pack / sling bag
4) Add to Your Adventure
Eager for more? Earn 60 points to be entered in a Level 3 prize drawing at the end of the summer!
Visit our Reading Challenges page for more information about Beanstack, the online platform and app we use for reading adventures and challenges!
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Berthoud Community Library Dist.
Get Ready to Unearth a Story this Summer at the Berthoud Community Library!
We can’t wait to welcome you to the Annual Summer Learning Initiative at the Berthoud Community Library! Whether you’re joining us for the first time or have been part of this tradition for years, we truly appreciate your enthusiasm and participation.
Mark Your Calendars!
Registration kicks off on June 1st, and punch cards for our Adult Summer Reading Program will be available the same day.
This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story”, and we’re so excited to dig deep into books, learning, and fun! This year we are using the ReaderZone app to track our reading. Our code is 08b5d. Physical punch cards for adults and physical bookmarks for kids will also be made available to pick up at the Library.
Have questions? Our friendly front desk staff are here to help, or feel free to give us a call at (970) 532-2757.
Get ready to join us for an unforgettable summer of reading!
What is Summer Learning?
Summer Reading is a fun way to keep your brain engaged over the summer break.
Joining the Summer Learning Initiative is a positive step for your whole family! Research shows that reading at any age helps our brains, but it's especially important for kids to avoid "summer slide." Summer slide might sound like a fun activity on the playground... however, it's a loss of knowledge children can experience every summer break from school.
We encourage everyone to participate in the learning fun: parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Make Summer Reading a family tradition!
Find out how to participate, get the code and more follow this link.
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Wellington Public Library
The Summer Reading Program Unearth A Story starts June 1st!
Registration begins May 11th!
If your child is too young to read, you can read to them!
Click on the link below to sign up for the program, and check our website for up-to-date information on summer programs such as art classes, Field Day, Denver Museum Wonder Workshops, and all the great prizes we will have available!
Get Started!
Register HERE on ReadSquared starting May 11th! All ages welcome to participate.
You can also download the free ReadSquared app on your phone to log your reading, keep up with challenges, and more!
Android App: ReadSquared on Google Play
iPhone App: ReadSquared in the Apple Store
Download and print reading logs for all ages here, or pick them up at the library!
June Reading Log: Link (PDF)
July Reading Log: Link (PDF)
Summer Reading Booklet: Link (PDF)
Once the Summer Reading Program begins, you can complete these sheets and turn them in for prizes.
Follow this link for the summer schedule and more information.
https://wellington.colibraries.org/youth/summer-reading-program/
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Red Feather Public Library
Unearth A Story Summer Learning Program
Track Your Reading:
Starting May 22nd, keep track of how much time you spend reading and use a reading log to record your time. You can read books, magazines, graphic novels, listen to audiobooks, or even read to someone else — and yes, it counts for both of you!
Earn Tokens:
Each age group has a different reading goal based on time. Once you reach your goal, you’ll earn a token. Either trade it in for a prize or save your tokens for bigger prize.
Grand Prize Drawing:
For every 3rd token you earn, you’ll be entered into our grand prize drawing! The more you read, the better your chances.
Final Turn-In:
The last day to turn in your reading log and claim tokens or prizes is August 9th.
BINGO CARDS!!!
A new fun way to read and experience more to get more prizes. Visit the library to get your BINGO Card and learn how it works.
Need a Reading Log?
Pick one up at the library or download it here.
https://redfeather.colibraries.org/summer-programs-2026/
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Ault Public Library (Highplains Library District - all libraries in the district)
All libraries in Highplains Library District participate in this program.
Unearth A Story Across Northern Colorado
1. SIGN UP
Sign up online or register at your library starting on May 18th.
2. LOG
Get your log when you sign up in the library or print a log here starting May 18th (English or español).
3. READ
When you read, you can check off, color in, or track your reading using the eggs on your log however you want!
How much reading for each egg? You decide! Here’s what we suggest:
Age 0-4: Read 5 minutes
Age 5-8: Read 10 minutes
Age 9+: Read 20 minutes
4. DO
FUN STUFF
There are activities on your log, too! Finish one, then fill in the matching egg!
5. PRIZES
Each egg is one point. You get a sticker when you register, plus two more prizes as you read on or complete activities:
10 points = Prize #1: Free Book!
20 points = Prize #2: Book AND Coupon!
Prizes will be ready starting May 26th, and the last day to claim prizes is August 8th.
6. Need More?
Print off a bonus log, track ALL the reading you can do all summer long!
7. Events!
Follow this link for links to each library to find all the events through summer.
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Estes Valley Library - Unearth A Story
Welcome to Summer Reading! From May 21 through August 1, readers of all ages are invited to dig into a good book, uncover hidden histories, explore the past, and discover the joy that reading brings. Look for themed programs and featured collections starting in June that emphasize every person and community has a stories waiting to be found and shared — through books, programs, local knowledge, and more.
Join us by tracking your reading! Here’s how to get started:
Choose your category: Adult, Tween/Teen, Middles or Littles.
Download the Beanstack app & set up your account (or log in with your previous summer’s account info!).
If you prefer to log your time via web browser, simply click the link above to view the desktop version.
Middles (ages 4-10): An analog reading log (English, Spanish) is available for your tracking.
Need help with logging your minutes? Email Youth Services.
Read happily, whatever you choose! Listening to books counts too. Borrow books from our collection, check out the e-books through Cloud Library, Hoopla, Libby, or Sora, & download audiobooks with your Library card.
Earn prizes as you tally your reading time and complete our fun reading challenges.
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DIY Summer Reading Program
You can create your own summer reading incentive and reward program.
- I recommend a step program. Create a list of books that can be earned as they achieve a level you desire them to be at by a designated period of time. Begin your program with easy-to-read books with things that interest your child. Something that will make them feel challenged but give them a running start and confidence, then build the next level a bit more challenging, and so on. I usually do only 3 levels with about 2-3 books in each level. Adjust each level to as many books as you think your child can complete within a summer and give bonus points for additional books read beyond that. After reading between 6 (2 per level) through 9 (more if your kid is an avid reader) they will feel proud of what they did and not experience the summer slide with their reading and comprehension.
- I start with a book that my daughter has been wanting and build the summer reading with books she has on her list. When she was younger, I made a list of books that I wanted her to read along with fun easy books to help build her reading ability. A mix of slightly challenging books with easy books to help build her confidence.
- Use something to track your child's progress. A bar chart, pie chart, box chart anything that makes it fun for everyone.
- I give other prizes as she finishes the books like stationary, pencils, etc. Pick out some great incentives as encouragement for prizes as each goal is met. I liked to get a great backpack for my daughter as the final prize at the end of summer just in time to go back to school.
Other suggestions:
Prizes: A special night out doing something they truly love.
Extra time with a friend
A fun trip to a park, a picnic.
Think of the things your kids love and reward them with something that will create memories!
This will help instill the love or reading too!
You don't want to burn your child out before going back to school, just keep them on track and engaged.
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Book Stores
Barnes & Noble
This great program is for all ages. Kid's journals are available for grades 1st to 6th in English and Spanish at Barnes & Noble or online. I found info for 2025 not 2026. You can find this year's information at local stores. Participants must read 8 books, tell what their favorite part is and why. Then they can return the book journal to Barnes & Noble and choose one book from a list of books as a reward! All stores participate, 2 closest ones are The Promenade Shops at Centerra 5835 Sky Pond Drive, Loveland 80537 and South College Ave 4045 S College Fort Collins 80525. For more details visit Barnes & Noble web page.
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Online Reading Programs:
Books A Million
Will give you a Diary of a Wimpy Kid backpack when you read any 4 books from this summer reading adventure section. Use their journal.
Colorado Reading Center
offers a great program for school-age kids. If your child is behind due to dyslexia, comprehension, spelling, writing or just because of this crazy year. They offer online tutoring and support. They have a summer reading program called Strong Start. Find out about all they have to offer at:
Intensive writing summer camp At Colorado Reading Center
If your kids love to write or need a little help in this area the intensive writing summer camp is wonderful. http://coloradoreading.com/
PBS has wonderful resources for parents.
From reading to emotions and everything in between, PBS has activities, stories, and games for kids. PBS offers articles and more for parents to help with emotions and more too! If your young reader loves Super Why this is a great program for reading!
Pressbook offers some great tips for the teachable moments and songs to support the early childhood learning and reading skills of this summers reading programs Libraries Rock!
is a great way to get your kids reading! This site offers games, activities, virtual books, insight into characters and author, kids club, reviews, and something for parents and teachers too! Register any time.
Pizza Hut Camp Book It
Register and read for a variety of programs sponsored by Pizza Hut. They offer summer reading, The Literacy Project, National Young Readers Week, Give Me 20 for early childhood readers, and Book It! Read more about Book it here.
Summer Camp Reading Program
REGIS University - https://readingprograms.org/Regis - Based in Denver for kids from preschool to 12th grade. This is a proven curriculum from the Regis University and taught by professional instructors from the Institute of Reading Development. Each grade level has a camp set for them. Flexible schedules, weekly one-hour classes, and short structured assignments make it simple for your child to grow as a reader and student over the summer. https://www.regis.edu/About-Regis-University/Campus-Locations.aspx
Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck E. Cheese will give 10 free Play Points (with food purchase) for 2 weeks of reading every day! Use their calendars to track progress for reading and other goal oriented tasks year round. Being a super student, Super Sport, Great Listener, doing homework and chores too! 25 calendars and awards for your kids on their webpage. Greeley location is currently the closest to us.
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More Online
Star Fall - http://www.starfall.com/ is geared to early reading K-2nd grade. Math is also available and there is an option for Educators and Homeschool. There are Free downloads and paid subscriptions.
Spelling City - https://www.spellingcity.com/ For Grades K-12. Has options for Parents, Educators, School district, & Homeschool with memberships. This program expands vocabulary through games, & reading. This site offers resources such as tutorials for parents, teachers, homeschool, etc.
Reading Eggs – https://readingeggs.com/ For kids 2-13. Reading and math. This site does assessments to see where your child is in his or her reading and math journey and helps them grow to the next level filling in gaps and helping them grow confident.
Book Taco - https://app.booktaco.com/ From reluctant to avid readers, students love our interactive approach to the management, assessment, and motivation of independent reading.
Book Taco takes a drastic departure from the one-dimensional methods of prominent legacy programs by offering a platform with a wider variety of reading-related activities that cater to all learning styles.
By infusing gamification, our mission is to appeal to digital-age students and rekindle their love for reading.
Scholar Within is a reading program for kids K-8. They offer Homeschool a Summer reading program and so much more. Help Your Kids Become Strong, Confident Readers, Improve reading speed with their research-Proven reading fluency training. Learn effective reading comprehension strategies. Read fun and engaging reading passages. Learn how to easily take notes. Learn to spell accurately and confidently with spelling patterns. Improve planning and time-management skills with their program.
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Ways to get free books:
Check them out at your library: It’s a great way to have access to thousands of great books and you don’t have to keep them. If you really like a book you can always buy it but most of us who love to read would have thousands of books at home if we kept everything we’ve ever read. If you do this during the summer reading programs many of the prizes are free books!
Little Libraries around town! This is an amazing way to borrow a book and maybe find something truly unique and unavailable any other way. Some little libraries take donations and this opens up a whole lot of opportunity for a wide variety of titles, subjects, types of books. Biographies, science, story and other kinds of books can be found in a little library. Check out where to find them around town here.
Book Crossing http://www.bookcrossing.com/ is a great web page that connects readers with books that have been “released into the wild”, so to speak. It’s free to join and the potential is endless. It covers over 132 countries so you can get books in other languages from other cultures. The cool part is that it is simple. Have a book you want to release? Easy, Get a Kit, Register the ID# (they will give you) then list it and let it go. There are different levels to participate in but the basic is free.
Borrowing or trading with friends is always popular but as we get a bit older we forget about this one.
Ok We all Know Dolly Parton no matter your age. From country music to philanthropy she has done it all. You can get books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She offers books to kids 0-5 and has a tremendous selection of books. Visit her site for free registration
Craig’s list offers tons of stuff and if you are looking for books there is a category for that too. Local Craigs lists can be found via google search.
There are always books for all ages and likes at Garage sales and I’ve found that most will give you a book or two if you ask rather than take them to good will etc. If you ask and especially for kids books most people will just give them to you. I know I’m a softie and just say yes even if I have them labeled.
PaperBack Swap offers another free book option similar to BookCrossing but without the expense of tracking the book. Website for PaperBack Swap.
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