The Summer Reading Challenge begins on June 7
The Des Moines Public Library's Summer Reading Challenge starts Saturday, June 7!
You'll be able to register at any of our six locations or right here on the Summer Reading Challenge page. When you register for the Summer Reading Challenge, you'll immediately receive a free book!
Join us for the kickoff celebration!
Celebrate the start of Summer Reading at our Summer Reading Kick-off Celebration on Saturday, June 7 at Central Library from 10 AM-12 PM. There will be activities and fun for all ages. Learn more.
How the challenge works
Work your way through our challenge program by reading for 20 minutes or completing various learning activities. Once the challenge is complete, turn in your worksheet and you'll get a small prize and be eligible for the big prizes in our end-of-summer drawing.
There are three different categories this year: one for kids up through kindergarten, one for grades 1-5, and one for grades 6-12.
How to register
You will be able to sign up at your favorite DMPL location, or register right here online.
Check out the Summer Reading Guide!
This publication is chalk full of all the programs happening during the Summer Reading Challenge. You can also grab a Summer Reading Guide when you sign up for the challenge beginning June 7!
Summer Reading Challenge Prizes
Registration Prize
Choose a book among a selection provided by the library when you sign up
Branch Prizes
One winner chose from each age group at each location, including digitally through Beanstack.
Newborn - Grade K
Simple Steps prize pack: Duplo set and two Board books
Elementary (Grades 1-5)
Lego classic bricks and two Lego books
Middle/High School (Grades 6-12)
$50 VISA gift card, snacks, and a journal
Completion Prize
Receive one each time you complete the challenge
Choice of fidget, finger puppet, zipper bracelet, bookmark, rubber duck, stress ball.
Newborn - Grade K Activities
READ
- Read signs and point to letters around your home or neighborhood.
- Point to pictures and words in a book as you read.
- Check out a STEM or literacy kit from the library.
- Attend a library storytime.
WRITE
- Practice holding a crayon or pencil.
- Complete a puzzle together.
- Practice counting fingers and toes.
- Draw a picture and talk about it.
SING
- Sing a song with words that rhyme.
- Sing a lullaby or song at bedtime.
- Play music with household items.
- Make up a silly song about cleaning up your toys.
PLAY
- Pretend to be a community helper and act out their day.
- Play together with friends or siblings.
- Build a blanket fort with your family.
- Practice making faces in a mirror based on different emotions.
TALK
- Identify simple shapes in your neighborhood.
- Describe and compare items in your house based on size, shape, or color.
- Practice color identification in the grocery store.
- Talk about a character’s emotions as you read a story.
Grades 1-5 Activities
- Read or be read to for 20 minutes
- Attend a DMPL program
- Read a book to, or with, a friend or family member
- Check out a STEM kit or an item from the Library of Things
- Listen to an audiobook (Libby, Vox or Wonderbooks)
- Read or listen to a book outside
- Help cook something new from a cookbook
- Write a story, or draw a picture, featuring your favorite book characters
- Build your own cozy reading fort
- Try a science experiment from a nonfiction book
Grades 6-12 Activities
- Read or listen to a book for 20 minutes
- Attend a DMPL program or volunteer at the library
- Write an epilogue for your favorite book character
- Try a science experiment from a nonfiction book
- Create a playlist for a book you love
- Check out a book from a genre you don’t typically read
- Create a comic with your favorite book characters
- Use a library resource to explore an area of the world you’ve never visited
- Cook something new from a cookbook checked out from the library
- Create a piece of art based on a book
