🌞🌞 Summer Reading Challenge: Color Your World! June 28 – August 2, 2025
Join us at Whiting Library for a summer filled with reading, creativity, and discovery! Our Color Your World Summer Reading Challenge encourages kids to read every day—no sign-up, timers, or reading logs required. Just stop by the Youth Room, pick up a challenge sheet (or not!), and take part in fun activities that keep learning going all summer long.
Make reading a part of your daily summer adventure! The Summer Reading Challenge is all about spending time reading each day and turning reading into a habit kids will love.
📚 How It Works
No registration required. Just tell your Youth Services Librarian who would like to participate.
Read every day from June 28th to August 2nd.
Attend fun events throughout the summer at the library.
Completion Prize: Kids can choose up to two free books to keep from our special summer readers bookcase simply by participating in the Summer Reading Challenge and visiting the library!
🎉 Key Dates
Saturday, June 28: Summer Reading Challenge Kickoff
Wednesday, June 25 – August 6, 1 PM: Nature Museum Summer Unplugged Programs (7 consecutive Wednesdays)
Come read to a furry friend! 🐶
Kids are invited to boost their reading confidence by reading aloud to a gentle, trained therapy dog named Orla. Our Tales to Tails program provides a calm, playful, and nonjudgmental space where young readers can practice their skills, build fluency, and enjoy the company of a four-legged listener.
Reading to a dog makes learning feel like play—which is essential to literacy development! Through play, children engage their imagination, build language skills, and gain the confidence they need to become lifelong readers.
Perfect for emerging and reluctant readers—because dogs make the best audience! 📖
Kathleen Karl, a registered therapy dog handler and seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience helping children become successful readers, will be on hand to support young participants. Kids are welcome to bring their own book or choose one from the library.
When: July 2 – August 2
📖 Wednesdays from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
📖 Fridays from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
🐾 Prefer a different time? Appointments are welcome! Contact Carrie to request a time that works for you—we’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule.
🔖 Reserve your reading time with Orla:
Email Carrie King at youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org
Saturday, August 2 at 11:30AM, celebrate Summer Reading with Us!
Join us for a fun-filled Ice Cream Social honoring all of our Summer Reading Challenge participants! Everyone’s invited to cool down, enjoy a treat, and celebrate a great summer of reading.
Plus, this is the final day to collect kid’s new book rewards for participating in the summer reading challenge at the library this summer. See Carrie King, Youth Services Librarian, to pick up your book prizes.
🌿 Weekly Nature Museum Programs
We’re excited to host The Nature Museum for a weekly series of hands-on environmental education programs—perfect for curious minds Pre-K through elementary! Held rain or shine, indoors or out, each Wednesday at 1 PM from June 25 to August 6. Come explore stories, science, and the natural wonders of Northern New England. See our Events Calendar for detailed information on each weekly topic.
💬 Questions?
Email Carrie King at youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org or call us at 802-875-2277.
Come read, explore, and color your world with us this summer!
