2026 Summer Reading Program
June 15th – July 31st
Programs for both Early Literacy (Birth through Preschool) and Children (Kindergarten – 5th Grade)
Read to Earn Prizes!
For summer 2026, we’re challenging you to a game of BINGO!
For each row you complete on your BINGO board, you earn a brag tag.
Complete the board to earn a free book to keep and to choose a prize out of the barnyard box.
Inside the book you’ll find an invitation to an End of Summer Reading Pool Party!
Summer Reading Events
All programs are located in the Library Meeting Room downstairs unless otherwise noted.
More details about each program can be found in our Calendar.
Story Time – Ages 5 and under
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Messy Art – all ages
Tuesdays from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
June 16 – Seed Bombs
June 23 – Fairy Houses
June 30 – Farm Friend Painting
July 7 – Feathered Friends
July 14 – Coffee Filter Flowers
July 21 – Rock Painting
July 28 – Golfball Painting
Window Greenhouse Kick-off
Monday, June 15 from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Family Movie: Charlotte’s Web
Monday, June 22 at 1:00 p.m.
Touch A Truck (gravel parking lot)
Thursday, June 25 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
A Dinosaur is Loose at the Library!
Author Visit with Kelly Crull
Monday, June 29 at 1:00 p.m.
Farm Fresh Magic Show with Jeff Quinn
Monday, July 20 at 6:00 p.m.
Butterfly Encounter (gravel parking lot)
Thursday, July 23 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Interactive Family Movie: The Lorax
Monday, July 27 at 1:00 p.m.
The Library’s Summer Reading Program is graciously sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Funding is mostly raised through their memberships and the used book sales at the library.
Learn more about the Friends of the Library by clicking here.
Join us at the North Iowa Fairgrounds during the Fair for the Iowa Storytelling Festival & Local Author Fair!
Saturday, August 1st
in the Olson Building
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I sign up?
A: You can register your child(ren) at the Children’s Desk downstairs in the library starting June 15th!
Q: Can I register online?
A: Not this year. Because of how our program is structured, it’s not conducive to online tracking. Stop by the desk to register!
Q: Why read during the summer?
A: On average, children lose about two months (!) worth of learning over the summer if they don’t read. It’s nicknamed the “Summer Slide” and can accumulate over the years. That means that by middle school, if a child doesn’t work to retain what they’ve learned, they could be more than 2 years behind their classmates! The good news is: Summer Slide can be prevented! Reading (for enjoyment!) just 20 minutes a day helps children retain what they’ve learned throughout the school year and helps them to start their fall semester more successful. This is especially important this year as students will be away from their classrooms longer.
Reading isn’t the only way to beat the summer slide: try cooking, planting a garden or listening to audio books!
Q: Can I complete the program more than once?
A: No. Each participant may only complete their program once over the course of the summer.
Q: When will the completion prize Pool Party be held?
A: The Pool Party is scheduled for Sunday, August 2nd from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Clear Lake Aquatics Center. All regular pool rules apply, but admission costs are covered by the library. Summer Reading participants that have completed the program and earned their ticket can bring their immediate family with them to celebrate!
