Unearth a Story: Summer Reading 2026

Summer Reading 2026: May 15 - August 15

Unearth a story this summer with Summer Reading. Track your reading and complete missions to earn badges, points, and prizes, and enter raffles for additional chances to win.

How Summer Reading Works

Read What You Want All Summer Long

Log Your Reading to Earn Points

Complete Virtual Activity Badges for More Points

Submit Book Reviews for Extra Points

Spend Earned Tickets on Prizes

A Big Thank-You to...

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers and Habit Burger & Grill for youth milestone prizes and to the Robert Cullen O'Neill Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation for book prizes for the children's and teen programs.

Point Breakdown

  • 1 minute of reading = 1 point earned (Children's & Teens' programs only)
  • 1 Book = 300 points earned (Adults' program only)
  • Completed Activity Badges: 25 points for a standard activity, 30 or 50 points for a big activity
  • Writing Reviews: 10 points earned per review*
  • Completed Challenge: 2,000 Points

*Submitting up to 5 reviews total will earn points for each review; any review submitted after the first 5 will not earn additional points to use for tickets.

Sign Up and Completion Prizes

Children's Program

Register for Summer Reading and receive a Habit Burger + Grill bookmark coupon for free Kids' Meal! Pick up at the Youth Services department desk.


Teen Program

Register for Summer Reading and receive a Habit Burger + Grill bookmark coupon for free Double Char burger! Pick up at the Youth Services department desk.


Adult Program

Earn 2,000 points to choose a free book to keep! One per customer; selections vary by library location. Pick up at the Adult Services department desk.

Children's Program Point Prizes

  • 150 Points: Milestone Tag + ring for tags (while supplies last)*
  • 300 Points: Milestone Tag
  • 500 points: Milestone Tag
  • 1,000 points: Milestone Tag + Book Prize + Raising Cane's certificate + Habit Burger certificate
  • 1,500 Points: Milestone Tag
  • 2,000 Points: Milestone Tag + Book Prize + Raising Cane's certificate + Habit Burger certificate

*Milestone Tags and other prizes can be picked up at your local library location's Youth Services department desk.

Teens' Program Point Prizes

  • 150 Points: Milestone Tag* + ring for tags (while supplies last)
  • 300 Points: Milestone Tag
  • 500 Points: Milestone Tag
  • 1,000 Points: Milestone Tag + Book Prize + EITHER a Raising Cane's certificate* OR a Raising Cane's Lemonade Card + Habit Burger Char Burger coupon
  • 1,500 Points: Milestone Tag
  • 2,000 Points: Milestone Tag + Book Prize + EITHER a Raising Cane's certificate* OR a Raising Cane's Lemonade Card + Habit Burger Char Burger coupon

*Milestone Tags and other prizes can be picked up at your local library location's Youth Services department desk.

Spanish with Amigos, part of a series

Drop in for interactive bilingual Spanish language games and immersion activities. Bilingual speakers of all levels are welcome.

Lunch at the Library, part of a series

Free nutritious lunches for anyone 18 and under. In partnership with Hub of Hope.

Lunch at the Library, part of a series

Free nutritious lunches for anyone 18 and under. In partnership with Hub of Hope.

Raffle Tickets Earned by Badge

  • Registration: 10 tickets
  • Completed Challenge: 50 tickets earned
  • 150 Points: 10 tickets earned
  • 300 Points: 30 tickets earned
  • 500 Points: 50 tickets earned
  • 1,000 Points: 75 tickets earned
  • 1,500 Points: 100 tickets earned
  • 2,000 Points: 200 tickets earned
  • 2,500+ Points: 200 tickets earned
  • Activity Badge: 25 tickets earned
  • Review Badge: 5 tickets

Note: You can earn more than 2,500 points, but no extra tickets will be given after 2,500 points.

JUST ADDED! New Raffle Prize

Win a day at the Fredericksburg Nationals! Earn and spend your Summer Reading raffle tickets for a chance to win a voucher for two field-level seats. The more you read and participate in activities, the more chances you have to enter.

Raffle Prizes: Children's Program

Note: Only one winner will be drawn for each raffle at the end of the program.

  • Board Book Bundle (Pre K)
  • Book Bundle (Grades K-3)
  • Book Bundle (Grades 3-5)
  • Braille Book Bundle (Grades 3-5)
  • Book Bundle (Grades 5-7)
  • Non-Fiction Book Bundle (K-5)
  • Graphic Novel Book Bundle (K-5)
  • 2 Raising Cane’s basket of swag and coupons, valued at $35

Raffle Prizes: Teens' Program

Note: Only one winner will be drawn for each raffle at the end of the program.

  • Fantasy Fiction Book Bundle
  • Dramatic Fiction Book Bundle
  • Science Fiction / Dystopia / Adventure Book Bundle
  • Romance Book Bundle
  • Braille Book Bundle
  • 2 Raising Cane’s basket of swag and coupons, valued at $35

What's in the bag of swag?!

  • Baseball hat
  • Multicolored pen
  • Pawriffic notepad
  • Drink coozy
  • Magnet
  • Key chain / emergency whistle and light
  • Lip balm (unflavored)
  • Big dog stuffie (that barks!) and little dog stuffie
  • Voucher for Raising Cane's Box Combo (valued at $12.29)
  • Voucher for free lemonade from Raising Cane's

Note: Only four bags of Raising Cane's swag and coupons will be raffled: two for the children's program and two for the teens' program.

Raffle Prizes: Adults' Program Book Bags

  • Large Print
  • Thrills & Chills 
  • Literary Fiction 
  • Best of #BookTok
  • Romantasy 
  • Intentional Living
  • Cozy Mysteries
  • Sci-Fi and Fantasy
  • Food & Travel 
  • Nonfiction

Understanding the History of Labor Day

This collection features books for kids that explore the history of the labor movement, the fight for workers' rights, and more.

My Librarian: Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of the material remains of past human life and activities. Dig into some interesting books with this list!

My Librarian: Mysterious Mazes

Enter endless mazes, elaborate mansions, creeping castles, and labyrinthine libraries in these stories of adventure and mystery.

My Librarian: Latino/Hispanic Mysteries & Thrillers

Celebrate Hispanic contributions to the mystery and thriller genres with these great titles!

Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments regarding Summer Reading challenges, please reach out through CRRL's Ask page,, opens a new window or, visit your local library location's, opens a new window Adult or Youth services desks.

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