Dig Deeper into books and grow stronger in your reading with Boston Public Library’s summer reading program for youth 0-17 years old. Download a bookmark in English, Español, 中文, or get one from any open location.
Complete your challenge to Dig Deeper and Grow Stronger in reading by reading 9 books or attending 9 programs or a combination of both.
Let us know that you’ve completed the “Digging Deeper and Growing Stronger” challenges by 5 pm Friday, August 13th, to be entered in the library’s grand prize drawings. You can notify us of completion in any of these ways:
- Drop off your bookmark at any open library location. Library staff can help direct you to the drop off box.
- Fill out this online form
- Email a picture of your completed bookmark to summer@bpl.org
Prizes
The prizes will be books, toys and age-appropriate activity kits.
Looking for more summer reading fun?
- Stop by a participating branch to get a craft kit
- Join us at one of events for youth,
- Follow @bplboston on twitter or Boston Public Library on Facebook or your library location on social media to learn about upcoming events, or
- Check out our treasure troves of booklists!
- Remote Resources for Families and Youth
Why Does Summer Reading Matter?
Research shows that kids who don’t engage in reading over the summer tend to lose some of the academic skills they worked to develop during the previous school year. This effect is known as “summer slide.” Achievement gaps can develop between students who read over the summer and those who don’t. Library summer reading programs offer a fun way for kids to beat summer slide and keep their reading skills sharp for the new school year.
Find out more about summer slide below:
- New York State Library’s Research Overview on Summer Reading
- Resources from California Library Associate on the Value of Summer Reading
- American Library Association’s LibGuide of Summer Reading Research
Summer reading is also a great way for younger kids to boost their early literacy skills. Even as babies, kids start learning the skills that will help prepare them to read and write, a process known as “early literacy.” Early literacy starts long before a child is developmentally ready to read. For example, learning to identify shapes will eventually help a child recognize letters. Below are links to a few additional resources about early literacy.
- U.S. Department of Education’s “Helping Your Child Become a Reader”
- Colorado’s Libraries for Early Literacy’s “Five Early Literacy Practices”
- Talking Is Teaching’s Early Literacy Resources
Events
This summer, the library has a HUGE roster of online events, Storywalks, and craft kits planned for kids of all ages. Check out the schedules of events at the links below to see what adventures await at BPL this summer.
Summer Reading Booklists
Not sure what to read over the summer? The Boston Public Library has a wide variety of book lists on our website. Explore book lists for kids of all ages, or Dig into a booklist specially curated by our librarians on our 3 summer reading themes: Digging into Family, Digging into City, and Digging into Earth.
Want more personalized recommendations? Fill in our Shelf Service request form, and one of our librarians will send you a list of book recs! The more information you provide about what your child likes and why, the better we can tailor our recommendations.
