Summer Reading Challenge
Oceans of Possibilities
June 21 through August 28
The world is your oyster with this year's Summer Reading Challenge, Oceans of Possibilities. Families can dive in and discover the possibilities of deep blue oceans at the library! Children of all ages can join the challenge and earn points by attending programs, reading books and completing fun activities. Earn 20 points to win a completion prize and enter our new Beanstack Prize Drawing!
Learn about sea creatures, oceanography, boats, ships, local waterways and, of course, taking care of our planet and conserving water for the future. Program presenters include the National Aquarium, Eco Adventures, Science Guys of Baltimore and more! Find a complete list of our 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 21.
Sign in to the Summer Reading Challenge
Complete a Paper Game Board
Summer Reading Challenge game boards are available at branches beginning June 21, or download in English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF).
Kickoff Event
Saturday, June 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Point Branch
Get excited for the start of summer reading with a fun day of performances, activities and giveaways. Pick up a Summer Reading Challenge game board so you can have fun and learn all summer long!
Prizes and Drawings
Completion Prizes 
Complete the challenge by earning 20 points on Beanstack or paper to win a prize.
- Squeezy fish
- Jellyfish yo-yo
- Drawstring fish bag
- Book of your choice
Visit any branch by Saturday, August 27 to pick up your completion prize. If you played on a paper game board, bring your completed game board with you. All Summer Reading Challenge completers will also be entered into a branch drawing to win a $100 Visa gift card.
New—Beanstack Prize Drawing
Complete the Summer Reading Challenge on Beanstack to earn five virtual tickets for the Beanstack Prize Drawing! Prizes include family memberships to the Maryland Science Center, Maryland Zoo, Port Discovery Children’s Museum, tickets to the National Aquarium or a Nintendo Switch. Choose which prizes your virtual tickets will go toward on Beanstack.
Drawings take place on Monday, August 29. Winners are contacted by phone or email by Friday, September 2 and will be asked which branch they would like to pick up their prize from. Please be sure to provide an email address or phone number when registering on Beanstack.
Oceans of Possibilities T-Shirts 
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 are given out on the following dates on a first-come, first-served basis to customers by request. Kits cannot be reserved ahead of time.
- Wednesday, June 8—Sneak a Peek Into Summer Reading—Fish Suncatcher
- Friday, July 1—Ocean Animals—Pipe Cleaner Coral Reef
- Monday, August 1—Ocean Conservation—Recycled Artwork
Summer Meals
Tuesday, June 21 to Tuesday, August 23
Provided by Good Harvest, meals are available Monday through Friday for pickup* or eating in the branch.
- Arbutus—Noon*
- Essex—Noon
- Lansdowne—12:30 p.m.
- Loch Raven—12:30 p.m.*
- North Point—12:30 p.m.
- Randallstown—Noon
- Reisterstown—Noon
- Rosedale—Noon
- White Marsh—Noon
- Woodlawn—12:30 p.m.
*Pickup Only
Important note: The lunch program is for youth 18 years old and under and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals can be picked up by an adult without a child present. If eating in the branch, children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. The lunch program cannot accommodate groups such as camps, childcare centers, etc.
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