This year’s summer reading theme invites you to dig into a good book, uncover hidden histories, and explore the past! The slogan underscores the joy of discovery that reading brings. It also emphasizes that every person and every community has stories waiting to be found and shared—through books, programs, and local knowledge.

MPL will host FREE interactive youth programs aligned to this year’s theme from June 2 – July 24! Programs will be held June-July in the Lower Basement (LB) Community Room unless otherwise stated. Youth 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. While these programs are intended mostly towards children ages 3-10, all are welcome!

Registration is strongly encouraged to help us plan accordingly. Click the links below to register.

2026 Summer Reading Program Schedule:

• Tuesday, June 2, 10am-11:30am
  • Unearth Summer Reading
  • Mattoon Public Library staff members will be available during this time to help you register for a library card, sign-up on Beanstack, and answer any questions you may have about the summer reading program. The first 50 people to attend and register on Beanstack will receive a Dino Swag Bag! Activities will also be available to engage youth during this time. The Children’s Museum of Illinois’ Mobile Museum will bring foam dinosaur bones for youth to play and explore!
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• Friday, June 5, 10am-11am
  • Dig Deep Explorers
  • Author Alice McGinty will help young explorers learn to observe the natural world (even their own backyards) by starting with what they know and then asking questions which will help them reach wide and dig deep. This energetic program includes an interactive reading of The Sea Knows, activities, music, and more!
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• Friday, June 12, 10am-11am
  • Fossil Detectives
  • Join Douglas-Hart Nature Center for a prehistoric adventure filled with giant dinosaurs, fossil discoveries, and hands-on fun! Young explorers will imagine life in a world before humans while learning how we uncover clues from the past. Craft & live animal experience included.
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• Tuesday, June 16, 10am-11am
  • The Patchwork Path
  • In honor of Juneteenth, join Taneya with The RealiTea ProjecT as she unearths a powerful story of courage, hope, and the journey to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Craft included.
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• Friday, June 26, 10am-11am
  • From Earth to Art
  • Let’s dig into the art of ceramics with Zoe from The Potted Cat! She will read a story, share about her work, and guide participants in making their own pinch pots from clay! Craft included.
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• Friday, July 10, 10am-11am
  • Adventures in Paleontology
  • Dr. Katie Lewandowski, EIU geology professor, will engage youth in a prehistoric story and then let friends explore her personal fossil collection!
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• Friday, July 17, 10am-11am
  • Tunnel Tales & Tails
  • Aikman Wildlife Adventure will join us at the library to burrow into a good book and share about some of their subterranean animals! Live animal experience included.
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• Friday, July 24, 10am-11am
  • Dig into Dirt
  • Dig into the science of dirt with the Coles County Soil and Water Conservation District during our final summer reading program of the year!
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Reading Challenges

MPL encourages youth, adults, and families to read during the summer through reading challenges! MPL uses a digital platform called Beanstack to help community members log reading hours and earn prizes in return. Challenges are split into 4 age categories:

• Early Childhood (ages 0-6)
• Children (ages 7-11)
• Teens (ages 12-17)
• Adults (ages 18+)

CLICK HERE TO SIGN IN AND REGISTER ON BEANSTACK!

Youth categories (early childhood, children, and teens) have weekly challenges to earn prizes. Youth that complete 5 out of 8 challenges will also be entered to win the grand prize for their age category. Adults are challenged to read books over the summer to earn up to 2 entries to win the adult grand prize.

Grand prizes:

• Early Childhood: Little Paleontologist Pack
  • Includes: dinosaur sensory bin, dinosaur books, and more!
• Children: Diggin’ Dinosaurs
  • Includes: dinosaur game, dinosaur books, and more!
• Teens: Dino-Bite Night
  • Includes: Jurassic park movies, game, & pizza gift card
• Adults: Day Trip to Chicago
  • Includes: Amtrak gift card, Chicago History Museum gift card, & a restaurant gift card