Summer Reading 2026
Read, Score, Roar!
Everybody wins when everybody reads!
Sign up and score a free book, read five books and win a prize!
About Summer Reading
This summer everybody is on the same team and running toward the same goal: the nearest Library. No bench warmers here; every reader is in the game.
Learn something new, explore the outdoors, share your creativity, connect with your reading teammates, and score a prize. The Library has a book — and a dinosaur — for everyone. Choose a favorite!
Upcoming Summer Reading Activities
Pablo is creative and curious. His ideal Friday night is spent at the Plaza Branch for Friday Night Family Fun. He loves storytimes, art club at North-East, a Stitch in Crime at Waldo, and checking out new craft books. He also likes to attend Pop in at the Park to play outside and do crafts.
Emilia loves to learn. She loves Signature Events, Missouri Valley Special Collections, and taking classes at the Library. She likes to attend conversation clubs, and her genre of choice is memoir.
Frankie loves the outdoors. He frequently visits the Seed Library at the Ruiz Branch, attends fitness classes at the Bluford Branch, Tai Chi at the Westport Branch, and yoga classes at the North-East Branch. He also likes to check out birdwatching kits and cookbooks.
Azzy is a social butterfly and knows all things pop culture. They like to attend the Off the Wall Film Series and Summer Reading kickoff parties. They are a member of many library book groups and attend Senior Social Hour at the Sugar Creek Branch. They love to check out music and movies, especially from the collection in the Film Vault.
Valentina likes to check out board games from the Plaza Branch, visit the Digital Media Lab at the Southeast Branch, and the LEGO Club and Dungeons & Dragons at the Trails West Branch. She likes to meet up with her friends at the Teen Hangout and Game Nights at Waldo.
On Demand Printables
Summer Reading Tips
Using an online book logging tool called Beanstack, both adult readers and parents of young readers can record and manage completed books. You can also download the Beanstack Tracker mobile app to read and log on the go!
- Go to kclibrary.beanstack.org
- First-time users: select Register as an Individual or Family.
- Existing users: Under “Already registered on this site?” click Sign In, and log in with your username and password
- On the next screen, select I am registering myself (This option is used to register individuals, children, and multiple readers).
- New users will select a username and password. Complete all required fields on the registration form. Registration for Adult or Youth programs is organized by selecting your Year of Birth in the "In What Year Were You Born?" drop-down menu field.
- From there you can begin logging your books.
- Once you have met the reading goals, you earn a reward! Library staff will check your record to confirm you have completed the reading or activity criteria.
Download the Beanstack Tracker app to manage your reading log from anywhere!
- Reserve books (and other Library materials) by logging into the catalog using your free online account at kclibrary.org/catalog.
- Don't have a Library card? Go to kclibrary.org/card to sign up and get immediate access to books, eBooks, digital audiobooks, streaming movies and music, digital resources, and more. You can also check your current library card status.
- If a favorite book is currently on the shelf at another Kansas City Public Library location, it can be delivered to your neighborhood branch. Contact us for assistance, or use the online catalog to place a hold and choose the Library location where you’d like to pick it up.
- Find select eBook and digital audiobook editions. Visit kclibrary.org/digital for more details.
- Audiobooks and Playaway titles count as reading!
- The Library offers two online reading recommendation tools.
- NoveList offers genre-specific reading lists as well as read-alike suggestions based on your favorite author.
- Booklist Online reviews and recommends fiction and nonfiction alike.
- Try out the Library’s Shelf Help service and get some customized book suggestions tailored to your tastes by our experts! Get started at kclibrary.org/shelf-help.
The Summer Reading Program is an initiative of the Kansas City Public Library aimed at encouraging leisure reading. The program advances a yearly theme as a means of inspiring children, teens, and adults to discover new or different ideas, experiences, or viewpoints through reading and other activities supported and suggested by the Library.
Made possible with support from
This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.