Connecticut Shoreline Library Summer Reading Programs 2025 | Events & Challenges for Kids
Across the Connecticut shoreline, libraries are ushering in summer with stories, scavenger hunts, and reading logs that feel more like treasure maps. These programs do more than encourage reading—they build community, reward curiosity, and give kids something to look forward to on long, sun-drenched afternoons.
Most shoreline libraries launch their summer reading programs in early to mid-June, with kickoff parties, take-home materials, and digital tracking systems like Beanstack or ReadSquared. Some offer book clubs grouped by age, while others sprinkle in crafts, STEM days, or even free museum passes.
Here’s what’s happening at shoreline libraries this season:
Scranton Memorial Library – Madison, CT
Theme: “Read, Explore, Discover”
At the heart of downtown Madison, Scranton Memorial Library invites young readers to embark on a summer-long literary adventure. The program is designed to grow with your child—whether they’re breezing through chapter books or just beginning their reading journey.
For Grades K–6:
Read a total of 1,500 minutes by August 22. While the library suggests 25 minutes a day, readers can reach the goal at their own pace. Every milestone earns a new piece of artwork to add to the community mural, turning each accomplishment into part of a larger shared story.
For Pre-Readers:
Read (or be read to) for a total of 100 books. After every 25 books (or 375 minutes), participants can stop by to pick up a colorful art piece with their name to add to the mural. The first piece is handed out upon registration—setting the tone for a summer full of creativity and connection.
Community Mural:
As kids log their reading through ReadSquared, they’ll contribute to a vibrant in-library art installation. Those who complete the challenge will also create a personalized astronaut portrait—complete with their photo—to hang among fellow finishers.
Grand Prizes:
Finishers are entered into a drawing for one of six Grand Prize Gift Baskets, filled with gift cards and special surprises. Winners will be drawn on August 23, with notifications sent by August 25.
Key Dates:
BINGO Cards Available: June 24 – Complete a row to earn a limited-edition Summer@Scranton 2025 button.
Program Kickoff: June 26 – Summer Reading Party: Their Butt Does What?!?
Final Day to Log Reading: August 22
Last Day to Collect Prizes: August 30
For more details on the Teen Summer Reading Game and the kickoff event, visit the Scranton Memorial Library webpage.
Guilford Free Library – Guilford, CT
Theme: “Adventure Begins at Your Library”
This summer, the Guilford Free Library invites teens to embark on an exciting literary journey with their Teen Summer Reading Game: Guilford Scavenger Hunt. Starting Monday, June 23, 2025, participants can sign up at the Reference Desk on the second floor to join the adventure. The program encourages teens to explore both books and their community through a series of engaging challenges.
Kickoff Event:
To launch the summer festivities, the library is hosting an After Hours Scavenger Hunt on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. This event offers teens a chance to solve clues, navigate the library in a new light, and connect with fellow participants in a fun, interactive setting.
For more details on the Teen Summer Reading Game and the kickoff event, visit the Guilford Free Library's webpage.
Clinton Public Library – Clinton, CT
Theme: “Level Up at Your Library”
This year, the Clinton Public Library invites readers of all ages to dive into learning, fun, and imagination through their 2025 Summer Reading Program: Level Up at Your Library. From gamified reading logs to coding and chess, this interactive series reminds us that libraries aren’t just about knowledge—they’re a place to play, explore, and grow.
For Kids & Teens (Ages 0–17)
June 1 – August 2, 2025
There are two ways to participate:
Beanstack (Online): Track your reading time, earn badges, and enter prize drawings.
Physical Reading Logs: Register and track your progress on paper.
How to Earn Rewards:
Read 5 out of 7 days a week (aim for 20 minutes/day) to earn a small prize and one ticket toward a big prize drawing.
Earn additional tickets by attending events (up to 10 max).
The top reader earns a special grand prize based on total minutes read.
Completed logs are due by August 6.
Reading Dragons Program:
Kids can earn collectible, playable cards—like dragons, unicorns, and griffins—by reading in 30-minute increments. Cards come in “evolution sets” and can be used in simple games with friends, making reading even more engaging for fans of Pokémon and mythical creatures.
Youth Events Include:
STEM Is Fun! – Hands-on learning sessions every Tuesday in June.
Maker & Art Camps – Limited spots available for grades 3–8 and K–6.
LEGO Club – 2nd & 4th Saturdays all summer.
Creative Explorers – Wednesdays at 3:00 PM for open-ended learning and play.
Storytimes, Wiggle Time, Anime Club, and Vibe Out Fridays for teens.
Special Events:
Summer Reading Kick-Off: June 6 – Face painting, balloon twisting, and sign-ups.
Teen Library Lock-In: August 1 – Pizza, games, and after-hours fun.
Big Summer Blowout: August 15 – Glo party, foam cannons, glow sticks, and food trucks.
For more details on the Clinton’s summer reading program and events by visiting the Clinton Public Library webpage.
How to Make the Most of It
Here on the shoreline, no two libraries are exactly alike—but nearly all are offering:
Digital & Paper Tracking – Whether you’re logging through Beanstack or a hand-stamped reading passport.
Interactive Programs – From LEGO challenges to Dungeons & Dragons one-shots.
Family-Friendly Events – Outdoor movie nights, poolside storytimes, and library lock-ins.
Tailored Recommendations – With local librarians who remember your child’s name—and their favorite animal books.
Don’t worry if you miss a kickoff party or forget to log a week. These programs aren’t about perfection. They’re about planting the seed of a story-loving spirit that grows quietly all summer long.
More Libraries Worth the Drive
If you find yourself venturing east toward Stonington or west past Branford, consider stopping at:
Acton Public Library in Old Saybrook
Henry Carter Hull Library in Clinton
James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford
Most shoreline libraries honor cross-town borrowing—and many welcome visiting families with open arms, a stamp card, and maybe even a popsicle coupon.
Summer May Fade, but Stories Stay With You
Long after the foam cannons dry and the last prize ticket is drawn, your child will remember the books that carried them through the season. A dog who talked. A robot who saved an island. A hero who looked just like them.
That’s the magic of a shoreline summer—and the legacy of the libraries that quietly make it all possible.
So sign up. Show up. Let them stay up reading past bedtime. Because some stories are only meant for summer—and this is the one they’ll never forget.
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IT’S A GOOD READ!
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