Summer Reading
About the Summer Reading Program
Track Your Reading. Win Prizes. Have Fun All Summer!
Join the Mattoon Library Summer Reading Program and get rewarded for reading! Kids, teens, and adults can log their reading time or books all summer long for a chance to win exciting weekly and grand prizes.
- Read what you love.
- Earn prizes.
- Win all summer long.
Summer Reading 2026
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.
Mattoon Public Library 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:
Reading Challenges
How to Read – and WIN!
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+)
Grand Prizes
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.
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
How to Get Started with Beanstack
Getting started is quick and free!
Sign Up or Log In
Visit Beanstack to create an account or log in with your existing one.
Track Your Reading
Use Beanstack anytime to:
- Log books and reading time
- Leave book reviews
- Get personalized reading recommendations
