Summer Reading Program

Summer Reading

Summer Reading Is Serious Fun!

Join us June 2 - August 2 for fun programs and activities. Log your reading all summer long to earn cool prizes!

Summer Reading FAQs

  • The Summer Reading Program is open to readers of all ages! There are four separate age groups for the program: Early Literacy (0-4), Kids (5-11), Teens (12-17), and Adults (18+). 

  • No! You do not need a library card to sign up for the Summer Reading Program or to attend any library programs. However, you need a library card to borrow materials from the library or from the Digital Media Catalog. Visit the library card page and find the right card works for you.

  • Participate in the Summer Reading Program by creating an account on Beanstack. 

UPDATE: YOU DID IT! YOU LOGGED OVER 5 MILLION MINUTES OF READING THIS SUMMER!

We think you can reach 6 million by August 2. Let's go for it. Keep reading! Keep logging your minutes!

Summer Reading Tracker: Week 8

Registrations

19,627

Minutes Logged

6,006,279

Books Read

247,083

Single Button Module

REGISTER NOW

Reading is Rewarding!

Reading is Winning!

The CYCLE Houston giveaway has now ended and winners have been notified.

Thank you to CYCLE Houston for providing HCPL readers with bikes and helmets.

There are more prizes to be won! Keep logging your summer reading on Beanstack to be eligible to win our Summer Prize Pack Drawings.

Summer Reading ends Saturday, August 2.

CYCLE Houston Bike Winners

Art, Music, Theater & More All Summer Long!

Featured Events

Art at the Library

The library opens a universe of creativity this summer with arts and crafts programs galore!

Science at the Library

The library has fun down to a science! Join us all summer long for STEM programs with Mad Science, Houston Museum of Natural Science & More

Theater at the Library

This summer catch live theater at your library! Enjoy stories come to life presented by Books Alive, Bright Star, and More!

Music at the Library

From opera to hiphop and beyond! Your library is alive with the sound of music all summer long.

Featured Events

Featured Events

Summer Reading Challenges

COLOR YOUR WORLD WITH GREAT READS THIS SUMMER!

Our Summer Reading Challenges offer prompts to help you find new authors, new topics, and new genres for new reading experiences!

Summer Reading Challenges

Summer Challenge #7: Expand Your Palette - Cookbooks & Food

For seven week of Summer Reading, challenge yourself to cook a new-to-you recipe, or just feast your eyes on the mouth-watering pics!

Summer Challenge #6: Pigment of Your Imagination – Fantasy

For the sixth week of Summer Reading, what's more colorful than an imaginary world? These fantasy worlds are vibrant and full of color.

Summer Reading Challenge #5: Romances - Enemies to Lovers

For the fifth week of Summer Reading 2025, heat things up with swoon-worthy enemies to lovers stories.

Summer Reading Challenge #4: Brushing Up on Your Skills

For the fourth week of Summer Reading, brush up on your skills! Check out these titles to improve on your skills or pick up a new hobby.

HCPL Summer Reading Sponsors

Thank you! HCPL is grateful to our sponsors for their generous support of HCPL’s Summer Reading Program!  

The Astros Foundation
George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation
Harris County Department of Education
Harris County Friends of the Library
Houston Botanic Garden
Houston Dynamo & Dash Charities
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston Symphony

HCPL on Houston Life

Anjela Martinez, Assistant Programming Manager for Youth Services, and Delaney Daly, Branch Manager at Jacinto City Branch Library visit with the good folks at Click2Houston's Houston Life to talk about Summer Reading 2024.

Why summer reading?

 

  • Kids and teens who read for pleasure during the summer have to spend less time and energy relearning lost skills when school starts.
  • As little as ten minutes a day of reading works wonders for children's language skills.
  • All the special, fun summer activities at the library can motivate reluctant readers.
  • Tracking the time they spend reading or the number of books they have read gives children a sense of accomplishment.
  • HCPL's Summer Reading Program is fun for the whole family--from baby to seniors.
  • You earn cool prizes for reading, attending library programs and doing other activities.

Get a Library Card

HCPL offers a variety of library cards- All free and available to Harris County residents! Find the right card for you and see all that the library has to offer.

Back to Top