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Summer Reading Challenge 

All Together Now 

June 3 through August 26 

Celebrate kindness, friendship and unity with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, “All Together Now.” Children of all ages can join the challenge and log their reading on Beanstack or a paper game board. Read for 10 hours to pick up a completion prize and enter in prize drawings!  

Visit the library this summer for fun and engaging programs where you can connect with others through science, art, culture, music and dance. Programs include:

  • Japanese Drumming with Mark H. Rooney
  • Intro to West African Culture with Kofi Dennis
  • Mexican Folk Dance with Bailes de Mi Tierra
  • Art Workshop with Arturo Ho
  • Classical Indian Dance with Prakriti Dance and more

View a list of summer programs.   

Register and Play  

There are two ways to play. 

Play Online with Beanstack 

This interactive game board tracks your activity to earn badges for points. Pre-registration is available now; begin earning points on June 3

Complete a Paper Game Board

Summer Reading Challenge game boards will be available at branches beginning June 3, or download a game board in English (PDF) or download a game board in Spanish (PDF).

Sign into the Summer Reading Challenge

Kickoff Event

Join us for the start of Summer Reading on Saturday, June 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Arbutus Branch, with a fun day of performances, activities and giveaways. Pick up a game board so you can have fun and learn all summer long! 

Prizes and Drawings 

Completion Prizes  2023 summer reading completion prizes, a slap bracelet and flower crafts

Complete the challenge by reading for 10 hours and logging your reading on Beanstack or a paper game board. 

  • Stretchy fidget flower 
  • Sunshine squeezy toy 
  • Slap bracelet 
  • Book of your choice 

Visit any branch by Saturday, August 26 to pick up your completion prize. If you played on a paper game board, bring your completed game board with you.  

Prize Drawing 

Complete the Summer Reading Challenge to earn five tickets to the prize drawing! Prizes include:

  • Family membership to one of the following:
    • Maryland Science Center
    • Maryland Zoo
    • Port Discovery Children’s Museum
    • National Aquarium
  • Nintendo Switch video game system

Choose which prizes your tickets go toward on Beanstack or by filling out the completion form on your paper game board and returning it to any branch. 

Drawings will take place on Monday, August 28. Winners will be contacted by phone or email by Friday, September 1 and asked to select a branch location to pick up their prize.  Please be sure to provide an email address or phone number when registering on Beanstack.

All Together Now T-Shirts  2023 Summer Reading Tshirt

Your commemorative Summer Reading Challenge T-shirt is available for purchase in branches while supplies last. Proceeds benefit the Summer Reading Challenge. The cost is $7.50 for kids and $8.75 for adults (tax included).  

Take-Home Craft Kits 

Stop by any branch to pick up a Summer Reading take-home craft kit. Kits will be given out on the following dates on a first-come, first-served basis to customers by request. Kits cannot be reserved ahead of time. 

  • Saturday, June 3: Rainbow Heart Hanging 
  • Saturday, July 1: Paper Flower Craft 
  • Saturday, August 5: Color-Your-Own Puzzle

Summer Meals

Provided by Baltimore County Public Schools and USDA Summer Food Service Program, meals will be available Monday through Friday, from June 20 to August 18Meals at Rosedale Branch end on August 4 due to temporary branch closure. 

  • Arbutus Branch: Noon 
  • Essex Branch: 12:30 p.m. 
  • Lansdowne Branch: 12:30 p.m. 
  • Loch Raven Branch: 12:30 p.m.
  • North Point Branch: 12:30 p.m. 
  • Parkville Branch: Noon 
  • Randallstown Branch: Noon 
  • Reisterstown Branch: Noon 
  • Rosedale Branch: Noon 
  • White Marsh Branch: Noon 
  • Woodlawn Branch: 12:30 p.m. 

Important Note: The lunch program is for youth 18 years old and under and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals must be eaten at the branch. The lunch program cannot accommodate groups, such as camps, childcare centers, etc. 

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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