Summer Reading Club 2025

July 22 update with colorful swirls

What is Summer Reading Club?

Summer Reading Club 2025 is an adventure for all ages! It's a fun (and free) way for everyone to enjoy the library together. It's especially great for families (including grandparents and grandchildren). We'll share photos of summer reading fun here from time to time, but you can find LOTS more photos on library Facebook pages (TADL, TADLKids, East Bay, Kingsley, Fife Lake)!

Reading Goal Update!

July 22 - It's a new record! We have nearly 4,000 readers signed up for the summer program, passing the previous record holder (2019's Universe of Stories). With 1.88M minutes logged we're well on our way to the 2M goal as well - great job community!

T-Shirt Fabric Pens

If you colored your t-shirt at the library with fabric pens you may want to set the design by ironing it on medium heat (without steam) for 3-5 minutes to ensure long-lasting results.

children fingerpainting

How to Sign Up

  • If you do not have a Beanstack account and would like one (it's free!) - create an account and accept the challenge (see note below).
  • If you already have a Beanstack account the Summer Reading Club 2025 challenge will be waiting there for you starting June 1. Just accept it for each and every reader in your household who wants to participate!
  • If you want to participate using a paper log just visit your TADL library and pick up a log - or print one at home (link below).
  • Visit your library (Woodmere, East Bay, Kingsley) for a free kids or teens t-shirt (first come first served only) while supplies last.

Beantack users - you will automatically receive a copy of our weekly summer newsletter, with the opportunity to opt out. It will give you all the upcoming events AND reminders about turning in your reading minutes for prizes. After the finale party we delete the email list!

Children with bubbles outside the library

Frequently Asked Questions

This free, all ages, program runs June 16 - July 27, with a finale party July 29 in Hull Park.

Sign up!

Sign up opens June 1. Signup at your library or, if you are already in Beanstack, accept the "Summer Reading Club 2025" challenge for all your participating readers.

Read!

Start reading any time and log your minutes either in Beanstack or on your paper log. Report your minutes each of the six weeks by Sunday at 5 pm.

There's also lots of fun to be had, with free programs, events and parties!

Get prizes!

Prize programs vary by age and library, contact your library for details.

 

Beanstack Users - Please see the links at the bottom of this page for a video.

Paper Logs - Take your log to your library to report your minutes.

Each participating library has a slightly different way of doing prizes, depending on reader age and other factors. 

Use the blue buttons on this page to visit each library and learn more!

Yes! We do have some paper logs if you prefer, just ask for a copy at your library.

No, but we would love it if you get one! It's the easiest way to get lots of great books to read over the summer. It's easy! tadl.org/getacard.

Newsletter

If you aren't a Beanstack user you can still access the summer reading Friday afternoon newsletters here as they are published. 

Week 1 Newsletter

Week 2 Newsletter

Week 3 Newsletter

Week 4 Newsletter

Week 5 Newsletter

Week 6 Newsletter

Each department and library has fantastic things planned for the summer, click the buttons below to learn more.

Upcoming Summer Reading Club Events

This event is in the "Youth" group

Summer Reading Club - Color Your World

All Day 6/1–7/31
Youth
Main Library - Traverse City
Library Branch: Main Library - Traverse City
Room: Display Case #1 Youth Services
Age Group: Youth
Program Type: Summer
Event Details:

Youth Services display of prizes, programs, and more fun that is happening during this summer's Color Your World themed Summer Reading Club.

This event is in the "Youth" group
This event is in the "Families" group

Summer Solar Workshop Series: Build Your Own Solar Car

2:00pm–4:00pm
Youth, Families
Main Library - Traverse City
Full
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Library - Traverse City
Room: Front Lawn @ TADL Main Library
Age Group: Youth, Families
Program Type: Science/Nature, STEAM, Summer
Registration Required
Event Details:

Ages 6 - 12.

This event is in the "Teen" group

Teen Lock-in

08/01/2025 @ 8:00pm–08/02/2025 @ 8:00am
Teen
Main Library - Traverse City
Register Now
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Library - Traverse City
Age Group: Teen
Program Type: Civics & Community, Play/Just for Fun, Summer
Registration Required
Event Details:

Teens 13-18 years old are invited to spend the night at the library. Arrival time is 8:00-8:30 PM. After that there will be no arriving late or leaving early unless pre-arranged. 

Disclaimer(s)

Food

Sensory Advisory

This event may include loud noises, bright lights, or other sensory information which may cause sensory sensitivity for some individuals. For more information, please contact the library.

This event is in the "Youth" group
This event is in the "Elementary" group

Outdoor Explorers (ages 5-8) with the Woodsy Dude

11:00am–12:00pm
Youth, Elementary
Main Library - Traverse City
Register Now
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Library - Traverse City
Room: Front Lawn @ TADL Main Library
Age Group: Youth, Elementary
Program Type: Play/Just for Fun, Science/Nature, Summer
Registration Required
Event Details:

Sign-up is required

This event is in the "Youth" group
This event is in the "Tweens" group

Wilderness Explorers (ages 9-12) with the Woodsy Dude

2:00pm–3:30pm
Youth, Tweens
Main Library - Traverse City
Register Now
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Library - Traverse City
Room: Front Lawn @ TADL Main Library
Age Group: Youth, Tweens
Program Type: Play/Just for Fun, Science/Nature, Summer
Registration Required
Event Details:

*Sign-up is required for this program.*

This event is in the "Adults" group

Laurel Premo Concert

6:00pm–7:00pm
Adults
Main Library - Traverse City
Library Branch: Main Library - Traverse City
Room: McGuire Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Arts, Listen, Summer
Event Details:

The library is excited to have Laurel Premo in concert! This is a free event being held in the McGuire Community Room.

colorful swirls

Could it be that time already?! Make plans to join us for our summer reading finale community celebration! 

Feeding America logo

Free sack lunches for kids & teens each week day

Woodmere 
Monday - Friday

  • 11 am - 12:30 pm

East Bay Branch Library
Tuesday - Friday

  • 11:30 am - 1 pm

Kingsley Branch Library
Monday - Friday

  • 11 am - 12:30 pm

(Woodmere - BATA Route #2; East Bay & Kingsley - BATA Route #13)

 

girl with tortoise

Why is summer reading important?

Our theme this year highlights all the wonderful colors stories add to our lives. We'll be celebrating this idea with lots of art and creativity over the six weeks - plus, of course, reading!!

It's important to both relax AND read over the summer. Summer is a great time to read whatever you find fun! For students this is especially important, because it helps maintain those important reading/comprehension skills built up over the school year. 

Keeping reading skills in tiptop shape is important for adults too!

TADL Summer-Theme Reading Lists

Reading & Literacy Resources (Non-TADL Websites)

group at outdoor storytime
children at library tables

Prize Drawings

You must have your minutes in and your prize tickets allocated to drawings by Sunday July 27. 

Refresher - How to put your Beanstack prize tickets into drawings

 

Beanstack - How To Videos

Beanstack is our free reading tracker! Use it as an app on your phone, or on a computer, to record your reading minutes and enter our prize drawings. 

Visit tadl.beanstack.com to sign up. It only takes a few minutes! Remember, you can always ask a librarian to help you get signed up.

2025 Sponsors & Supporters

Thank you to the following community partners who stepped forward to support our 2024 summer program! We will update this list as 2025 sponsors are confirmed.

Z93 Hits 90s to Now
  • Chic-Fil-A
  • GoGo Squeez
  • Grand Traverse Pie Company
  • Horizon Books
  • Pirate's Cove
  • TC Pit Spitters
  • Jimmy Johns
  • Moomers
  • Elev8
  • Oryana
  • Culvers
  • Dennos Museum
  • Paddle TC
  • Taco Bell
  • Burger King
  • KFC
  • Wendy's
  • YMCA
Open book with Friends of the Traverse Area District Library
confetti with tent and reading minute total of 2,050,910