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Youth Services Summer Reading Program
Unearth A Story!
Monday, June 8, 2026 – Friday, July 31, 2026
For children birth - grade 8
Kids from birth through 8th grade are invited to dig into our exciting reading program this summer! Join us to discover dinosaurs, explore the underground world of plants and animals, uncover rocks and minerals, and unearth stories from the past. Search our themed book collections, participate in hands-on programs, earn exciting prizes, and make fascinating finds along the way. Get ready—your next adventure is waiting just beneath your feet!
How to Participate
Register at the 
Youth Services Reference Desk and receive a reading log. Use the paper log to track the number of minutes your child reads.
Dino-mite Carnival Opening Day Kick-off
Monday, June 8th - 11:00am - 7:00pm
Get ready for a roaring good time at our dinosaur-themed indoor carnival! There will be awesome games, face painting, and amazing balloon creations. Head to youth services and sign up for our summer reading program then join this prehistoric party packed with fun!
Week One Bonus
Monday, June 8th – Sunday, June 14th - all day, everyday
Kick off your summer reading early! When you sign up during the first week, you’ll get a ticket to enter our Week One Bonus Prize Raffle! This year, summer readers will have a chance to win a one-year family membership to Brookfield Zoo, The Field Museum, or Kohl Children’s Museum, a Pirates’ Cove Summer Pass with 10 Jumps and Jiggles tickets, a family day pass to Vertical Endeavors, a voucher to iFly; or a Yoto Player with case.
Prizes
Prizes for reading include:
- Sieve and a gemstone
- T-shirt
- Pick one:
- Bucket and shovel
- Frisbee
- Dig & discover dinosaur egg
- Paint-your-own dinosaur ceramic
- Paperback book and a coupon for a free individual Lou Malnati’s pizza.
How to Claim Prizes
Prizes can be picked up at the Youth Services Desk starting June 15th.
Final Prize Drawing
A total of seven (7) tickets will be given to you when you register. When you read one book from one of our choice categories, place one ticket into the bin of the prize you would like to win. The drawing will take place after July 31, 2026. Winners will be posted on this page and at the Youth Reference desk*.
Prizes for the Final Prize Drawing include:
- Barnes & Noble gift cards
- Movie tickets to Classic Cinemas Theater
- Brain Quest Presidents Smart Cards – America’s 250th Anniversary Edition
- Break Open Geode Kits
- Dinosaur Lego Sets
- Melissa & Doug Magnetic Wooden Dinosaurs
*Winners are not called. Check this page in August or come into the Youth Services Department to check if your child won.
Click on the flyer below to download and view the English flyer. Or, click on the Polish Flyer or Spanish Flyer buttons underneath the flyer to see the flyer in Polish.
