Youth Summer Reading

2023 iREAD Facebook cover

Welcome to Summer Reading 2023!

Readers of all ages are invited to join our annual Summer Reading program!  

Children ages 3-12
Register for Summer Reading and track books read in the book log, which will be in the summer reading bag that we give you at the kickoff on June 1st from 4 to 6 pm.  We are only offering paper book logs this year due to the library's catalog software updates.  Children not yet reading on their own may count books read to them. Children will earn a Brag Tag for every five picture books or easy readers, or one brag tag for every two chapter books or non-fiction books logged. Audiobooks and ebooks count too!

What is a Brag Tag? They are fun collectible tags, and we give you a ball and chain necklacebrag tags to put them on! New tags will  be available all summer long. Children that finish the program will earn a ticket to our Pool Party at Maytag Pool on July 28th at 7:00 pm, and they will earn two tickets (one for a child and one for an adult) to the Homerun Reader game with the Iowa Cubs on August 6th at 1:00 pm.  They will also earn a certificate for one free kid's meal at the Newton Culver's Restaurant. It will take 25 picture books or easy readers or 10 chapter books to finish. Kids that want to keep earning Brag Tags after finishing may continue to do so all summer long!

Children ages 0-2
Children ages 2 and under will receive a bottle of bubbles and a board book to keep as well as the Pool Party ticket, Culver's Kid's meal, and Homerun Reader tickets upon completion of the program instead of the Brag Tags.

Youth Programs & Events - Click on Event for Details

Date Event Location Ages Registration
June 1, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Summer Reading Kick-Off Library Lawn All Ages  
June 6, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Iowa State University Insect Zoo Meeting Room All Ages  
June 7, 6:00 p.m. Choose Your Own M.E.S.S. with Will Stuck Meeting Room Kids & Families  
June 12, 6:00 p.m. Magician Mikayla Oz Library Lawn Kids & Families  
June 15, 10:00 a.m. Cold-Blooded Redhead Reptile Show Meeting Room Kids & Families  
June 19, 6:00 p.m. Family Magic Show with Jonathan May Meeting Room Kids & Families  
June 21, 10:00 a.m. SOAR Raptor Rescue Library Lawn All Ages  
June 26, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Absolute Science Bubble Workshop Library Lawn Kids & Families Ticket Required
June 28, 9:00 a.m. Sparkle Hoola Hoops with Mary Boyvey Library Lawn Ages 6 - 12 Opens June 1st
June 30, 1:30 p.m. Mixed Nuts Kid's Comedy Show Meeting Room Kids & Families  
July 6, 10:00 a.m. Dinosaur Encounter Meeting Room Kids & Families  
July 11, 10:00 a.m. Storywalk with Jasper County Conservation Agnes Patterson Park Kids & Families  
July 14, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Cartoon Workshop with Buck Jones Meeting Room Grades 2 - 5 Opens June 1st
July 21, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Des Moines Trak Club Model Train Display Meeting Room All Ages  
July 22, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Des Moines Trak Club Model Train Display Meeting Room All Ages  
July 24, 10:00 a.m. Twisted-Bokay  Meeting Room Kids & Families  
July 28, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Maytag Pool Party Maytag Pool Kids & Families Ticket Required
Insect Zoo
MESS
kick off
jon may
mush
Mikayla Oz
soar
reptile
mixed nuts
Trains
Hoola Hoops
dinosaur encounter
twisted bokay
buck jones