Plant a Seed, Read Summer Challenge

Sign up beginning
Tuesday, May 26 through Saturday, August 1

How to Participate

  • Kids (ages 0 to 11) Read for 40 days and earn a badge for every 10 days of reading. Read for 40 days to finish the challenge and earn a FREE BOOK!
    • Complete extra activities listed on the log and earn the Bonus Badge.
  • Teens (ages 12 to 19) Read for 40 days to finish the challenge and earn a FREE BOOK! All reading counts, whether it's 5 minutes or 105 minutes. Includes graphic novels, magazines, eBooks, audiobooks, or school reading.
  • Adults (20+) Read for 40 days to finish the challenge and earn a FREE SUCCULENT PLANT! All reading counts, whether you are reading to your children or a report for work.

Track Online with Beanstack

Participants can come in and pick up a reading log or track their reading progress on Beanstack. If you already have an account from last year, use the same login information. (Hint: Your username is your email or phone number)

Need help with your account or password? Email: @email

Read and Earn Prizes!

Sign up for the Summer Challenge and receive a small registration prize – while supplies last.

Complete the Bonus Badge for Youth!

Kids can complete extra activities to earn a Bonus Badge. Complete at least 3 out of 5 of these activities. Then, spin the wheel at any library location for an extra prize.

Programs to Dig Into This Summer

All Ages

Summer Challenge Block Party
Sunday, May 31, 1 – 3 p.m. • Town Square • All Ages
Be among the first to register for the Summer Challenge outside in our Town Square, pick up your reading logs, and grab your registration prizes—all while enjoying music, games, and our Environmental Fair with the Village of Schaumburg.

Flight of Butterflies Exhibit
Wednesday, June 17 – Saturday, August 29 • All Locations • All Ages
Be inspired by the colorful Flight of Butterflies Exhibit from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, with multiple installations around the Central Library, and one at each Branch. This immersive experience captivates people of all ages, inviting them to explore artist stories, capture breathtaking photos, and walk away inspired to take action.

Recycled Craft: Rainbow Twirlers
Saturday, June 27, 2 – 4 p.m. • Hoffman Estates
Reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic water bottles by creating rainbow twirlers. Drop in with clear plastic water bottles and learn how to create a colorful mobile for your garden.

Afternoon Movie: The Lorax
Saturday, July 25, 1 – 3 p.m. • Hoffman Estates
Enjoy this musical movie, based on the beloved Dr. Seuss book.


Youth

Art Adventures: Tissue Paper Flower Garden
Thursday, June 4, 1 – 1:45 p.m. • Central Craft Room • Ages 2-5 with caregiver
Make a flower garden out of tissue paper while supplies last.

Pipe Cleaner Flowers
Friday, June 5, 2 – 3 p.m. • Central Craft Room • Ages 5-8 years
Make a bouquet of flowers made entirely out of pipe cleaners.

Plant a Seed and Read
Thursday, June 11, 1 – 2 p.m. • Central Craft Room • Ages 2-5 with caregiver
Drop in for crafts and activities based on gardening.

Dan Gogh's Grow Show
Friday, June 19, 10 – 11 a.m. • Hoffman Estates Branch • Ages 5-12 with caregiver
Come on down to the farm with Dan Gogh for a hilarious, hoe-down magic show all about growing!

Virtual Field Trip: Chicago Botanic Gardens
Saturday, June 20, 3 – 4 p.m. • Central Craft Room • Ages 5-8 years
Virtually walk through the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Then, create a suncatcher made of various plants and flowers.

Walk on Water Design Challenge
Wednesday, June 24, 2 – 3 p.m. • Central STEM Lab • Ages 9-12 years
Drop in to learn how surface tension, density, and buoyancy enable insects to walk on water. Design and test out your own unsinkable insect.

Garden Adventures
Thursday, June 25, 2 – 3 p.m. • Central Craft Room • Ages 5-8 years
Nourish your mind and have fun with crafts and activities centered around seeds and flowers.

DIY Seed Bombs & Launcher
Tuesday, June 30, 2 – 3 p.m. • Central Craft Room • Ages 9-12 years
Create your own seed bomb and build a simple launcher to spread wildflowers.

Dress for Mess: Little Sprouts in the Garden
Friday, July 17, 1 – 2 p.m. • Central Craft Room • Ages 3-5 years
Join us for a hands-on, messy garden adventure where kids can paint, squish, and explore as they create their own colorful garden world.

Pressed Flower Crafts
Thursday, July 23, 2 – 3 p.m. • Central Program Room • Ages 9-12 years
Explore different kinds of plants and create pressed flower crafts, while supplies last.

Garden Mystery

Monday, July 27, 2 – 3 p.m. • Central Program Room • Ages 6-8 years
Work as a team to examine clues, unravel riddles, and solve a mystery.

Garden Adventures
Friday, July 31, 2 – 3 p.m. • Central Program Room • Ages 5-8 years
Nourish your mind and have fun with crafts and activities centered around seeds and flowers.


Teens

Teen DIY: Pressed Flower Resin Coasters
Tuesday, June 2, 6 – 7 p.m. • Central Program Room • Ages 12-19 years
Plant a seed of creativity and create a personalized coaster using pressed flowers and resin.

Drop In Craft: Egg Carton Plant
Saturday, June 13 OR Sunday, June 14 • Central Teen Space • Ages 12-19 years
Create your own egg carton plant. We provide cardboard egg cartons, plant soil, and seeds for you to start your very own seed germination journey.

Rainbow Connections: Beaded Plants
Wednesday, July 15, 5 – 6:30 p.m. • Central Program Room • Ages 12-19 years
Are you a teen looking to connect with peers and allies in the LGBTQ+ community? Join us for this month's program – decorative beaded plants.

Drop In Craft: DIY Bee Water Cups
Saturday, July 18 OR Sunday, July 19• Central Teen Space • Ages 12-19 years
Create your own bee water cup. We provide rocks, shells, glue, and decorations for you to create a unique, decorative, and highly useful water cup for bees.

Scavenger Hunt: Plant Your Own Garden
Wednesday, July 22, 4:30 – 6 p.m. • Central Program Room • Ages 12-19 years
Race against the clock to finish this scavenger hunt and win fun prizes.


Adults

Susan Maddox: Garden to Plate
Tuesday, June 2, 7 – 8 p.m. • Central Rasmussen Room
Chef Susan Maddox shares creative ways to turn fresh ingredients from your garden into delicious dishes in your own kitchen.

Adult Spelling Bee
Monday, June 15, 6 – 8 p.m. • Central Rasmussen Room
Think you’ve still got what it takes to spell under pressure? Put your skills to the test! Spectators are welcome to cheer on participants as we crown our ultimate word whiz.

Make it with Margaret: Pressed Flower Mason Jars
Tuesday, June 16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. • Central Rasmussen Room
Margaret Kusswurm guides patrons in making a decorative mason jar with pressed flowers.

Summer Reads and Recommendations
Wednesday, June 17, 2 – 3 p.m. • Central Rasmussen Room
Friday, July 24, 5 – 6 p.m. • Central Workshop Room
Adult Services Librarians share recent and upcoming titles to add to your summer reading list and help complete the Summer Challenge.

An Introduction to the East Asian Garden
Thursday, June 18, 7 – 8 p.m. • Hoffman Estates
Learn the cultural history of the East Asian Garden and its carefully composed scenes of ponds, paths, and pavilions.

Welcome to Birding
Thursday, June 25, 7 – 8 p.m. • Central Rasmussen Room OR Online
Jeff Reiter, author of the Daily Herald’s Words on Birds, shares stories about backyard birds, rare sightings, and the joys of birding. This engaging presentation shows how birding can be a fun and accessible way to connect with nature.

Birds and Blossoms: Exploring a Classic Chinese Art Motif
Wednesday, July 1, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. • Hanover Park Branch
Educator Yvonne Wolf guides attendees through a popular art motif, namely birds and blossoms.

Adult Craft Night: Paint a Pot
Wednesday, July 15, 7 – 8:30 p.m. • Hoffman Estates OR Hanover Park
Paint a pot to grow flower, vegetable, or herb seeds.

Ethnobotany: Exploring the People-To-Plant Connection
Tuesday, July 21, 7 – 8 p.m. • Central Rasmussen Room OR Online
Learn about the field of ethnobotany and how everyone, from farmers to therapists, is using our connection to plants to better understand ourselves, our environment, and each other.

Booklists

Books for Littles

Books for Kids

Books for Tweens

Books for Teens

Books for Adults