2026 Summer Reading Challenge
Make the Library - and reading - part of your summer June 1 through August 1! Our theme this year, Unearth a Story™, underscores the joy of discovery that reading brings. Check out the recommended reads below and spark your family's curiosity, imagination, and learning.
Kick-Off Party at Your Library
We kick-off this year's Summer Reading Challenge June 1-6 with parties at all 21 library locations. Join us for themed crafts, special guests, giveaways, and more.
All kids and teens in attendance will receive:
- A Free Book for their home library (while supplies last)
- Summer Reading Prize Tracker(s) to log reading minutes
- Reading Dragons & Friends starter card set and deck box
Read for 20 Minutes Per Day, Get Free Books
Read for least 20 minutes every day this summer. At the end of the day, fill in one square on your Summer Reading Prize Tracker game board. When you log 20 days of reading, you win another free prize book!
Remember to return all completed trackers to your local library by August 1, 2026.
Unearth Extra Prizes
Each week, collect new Reading Dragons & Friends playing cards by showing us your in-progress Summer Reading Prize Tracker. Supplies are limited. So, visit often.
Learn how to collect and play Reading Dragons & Friends on our blog.
If you read every day this summer, you can complete up to three trackers, meaning you can:
- Earn up to three more books for your home library
- Earn eight additional Reading Dragons card sets (32 cards)
You may also be able to earn special cards by participating in other activities, like visiting a Bookmobile stop. Many locations will also host Scavenger Hunts or give out Bingo Cards. Prizes and incentives for these activities will vary by location. Please ask your neighborhood librarian for more details.
Reading Recommendations
Throughout the summer, you'll find great, themed books on display and hear amazing stories at storytimes and other library programs (for all ages)!
Get More Book Recommendations
Throughout the summer, you'll find more themed books on display (or on the blog). It's all to encourage kids to read, learn and use their Library now and into the next school year!
If you don't find something that sparks your interest, you can also:
- Request a free Personalized Booklist from our "Book Finder" team
- Sign up for The Book Hook Up to see the hottest new titles via email
- Find read-alikes and curated lists using NoveList K-8 Plus
Don't be afraid to ask your local librarian for suggestions!
Adult readers are encouraged to join Jax Stacks, our year-round reading challenge for adults.
Community Partners
20 Minutes a Day Paves the Way
Research shows that summer library programs can help prevent summer learning loss and set kids up for future reading and academic success. Summer reading keeps kids connected to books, creativity, and discovery while they are away from the classroom. That is why Jacksonville Public Library is a proud member of Read Jax, a community effort to improve third-grade reading outcomes.
We’ve also adopted the slogan "Twenty Minutes a Day Paves the Way" because research has shown that reading (and being read to) just 20 minutes a day can:
- Provide time for parents and caregivers to bond with children
- Prepare pre-kindergartners for school
- Expose children to as many 1.8 million words per year
- Help students reach the 90th percentile on standardized tests
- Improve their earning potential later in life
- Lead to healthier lives
Note: Prize books were made possible by donations to Tenikka's Books for Kids (annual book drive) and the Library Foundation of Jacksonville. Since it launched in 2018, Tenikka's Books for Kids has put nearly 40,000 books in the hands of local children.
If you're visiting us in person this summer, you're sure to come across posters, bookmarks, and other marketing materials featuring the beautiful artwork by illustrator Tom Bonson whose work you may recognize from from Where Did the Dinosaurs Go?. Dinosaurs, paleontology, and archeology are consistently cited as high-interest areas for children and families, offering rich opportunities to spark curiosity, imagination and learning across all age groups. The slogan UNEARTH A STORY™ was chosen to align with this theme and is a Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) trademark which may only be used with prior written permission.
