animals in a park

Summer Reading Challenge! June 15 - August 31

MCPL’s Summer Reading Challenge! offers kids and teens a chance to fill their summer with great books and fun activities. This year, participants will help save the Chesapeake Bay (PDF). By completing missions, participants can help MCPL and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation preserve the Chesapeake Bay watershed, clean up the Chesapeake Bay, and provide healthy habitats for Chesapeake Bay animals.

Join in by reading books, completing creative learning activities, and attending library programs all summer long. You'll earn free books, badges, and Nationals tickets (while supplies last), plus entries for exciting raffles!

Participating is easy:

  • Sign up (or log in) online starting June 15.
  • Earn online badges to complete the program.
  • The last day to pick up and redeem Nationals vouchers is September 7th. All other giveaways must be picked up by September 10th.
  • (Optional) Print an Early Literacy or Elementary School Age game board at home or pick one up at your local library.
  • Take our survey in English or Spanish when you've finished the program. Your voice counts!

Sign Up and Log Activity Survey Survey (Spanish)

early literacy spacehips and aliens

Early Literacy (0-5)

Complete the recommended activities and/or books to finish three Missions and help Save the Chesapeake Bay. Earn incentives and unlock online badges each time you complete 4 activities and/or books.

literacy spacehips and aliens for children

Children (6-12)

Complete the recommended activities and/or books to finish three Missions and help Save the Chesapeake Bay. Earn incentives and unlock online badges each time you complete 4 activities and/or books.

image of space with text reading a universe of stories

Teens (13-17)

Read books, attend library programs, and write book reviews to complete Missions and be entered into MCPL-wide raffles! Learn more and check out the raffle prizes (PDF).

sharks and dolphins

More Summer Reading Challenge! Videos

Check out our 2022 Summer Reading Challenge! YouTube playlist for more videos about the program!

summer reading booklists sign

Gameboards & More

Print an Early Literacy or Elementary School Age game board at home. Also, remember to try out our virtual escape room!

Early Literacy Game Boards

 

Children's Game Boards

summer reading booklists sign

Summer Reading Booklists

Enjoy these reading lists by grade selected by MCPL librarians for kids of all ages.


You can also download PDF versions of these reading lists too -

Flat Shark Finley

Flat Shark Finley

Take Flat Shark Finley (PDF) along on all your summer adventures!

Take Finley to the pool, on vacation, and everywhere you go.

Take photos of yourself and Finley having fun together.

Make sure to tag #FlatFinley on social media if you post pictures of Finley's summer fun!

Summer Reading library partners

MCPL's Summer Reading Challenge! Partners

MCPL and the Washington Nationals are teaming up to encourage reading! The Nationals will give MCPL Summer Reading Challenge! participants who complete Mission 2 a voucher to attend a regular season game for free. Vouchers are available while supplies last.

MCPL and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are greening up Summer Reading by keeping plastic out of the waste stream. As children read and complete missions, MCPL will help plant trees, restore oyster beds, and improve animal habitats throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

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