Winter Reading

Blast From the Past
December 20 – January 31

Sign up for our all ages Winter Reading Challenge beginning December 20 and receive a goodie (while supplies last). Readers can earn tickets into the grand prize drawing for each book or activity completed. Those who complete the required reading will earn a finishing prize (while supplies last). The first day to turn in completed logs and claim your finishing prize is Wednesday, January 3.

To track your books, we recommend downloading the Beanstack Tracker app (iOS | Android), but you may also log your reading online or print a paper log (beginning December 20). Watch this quick tutorial from Niche Academy on how to set up your Beanstack account. More tips for using the Beanstack app.

  • One of the optional activity choices is to read a book from the decade you were born. We’ve put together some book lists to make it easy for you.
  • It was such a success last year that we’re doing it again this year! From December 20-January 31 we will be collecting new and gently used coats (all sizes) for the Blessing Barn in our lobby. If you donate a coat, you can earn an extra Winter Reading badge (another one of the options for the activity badge).

Young Readers (infants-grade 1) | print a log
Read twenty books to finish the program; read up to twenty more books and/or complete an activity to earn a total of five grand prize drawing tickets.
Grand prizes: “Dino-mite” (4 Jurassic Gardens passes, Dinosaur coloring book & stickers, Noisy Dinosaurs book, and more) or “Let’s Go Retro” (Golden books, Colorforms, Spirograph Jr., and more)

Independent Readers (grades 2-5) | print a log
Read two books to finish the program; read up to two more books and/or complete an activity to earn a total of five grand prize drawing tickets.
Grand prizes: “Old Timey Toys” (Lite Brite, ViewMaster, Tiddlywinks, and more) or “History’s Mysteries” (Trekking Through History book, I Survived books, Timeline Game, and more)

Teens (grades 6-12) | print a log
Read two books to finish the program; read up to two more books and/or complete an activity to earn a total of five grand prize drawing tickets.
Grand prizes: “Retro Gaming” (a handheld retro gaming console pre-loaded with vintage games, the game of Simon, a Magic 8 Ball, and a $50 GameStop gift card) or “Fast Foodie” (gift cards to Cary Dairy, McDonalds, Jimmy Johns, KoJak’s, and Cuco’s Burrito Express).

Adults (ages 18+) | print a log
Read two books to finish the program; read up to two more books and/or complete an activity to earn a total of five grand prize drawing tickets.
Grand prize: Choose your own (gift card) adventure! Six grand prize winners will receive a $50 gift card to the Cary, Fox River Grove, or Crystal Lake business of their choice (e.g. restaurant, grocery store, gas station, gift shop, etc.)