Kids Summer Reading 2024

Join the Children’s Department for an exciting summer as you Read, Renew, Repeat!
Kids entering pre-kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to join us for the 2024 Summer Reading Program featuring programs for kids of all ages focused around our theme of conservation and restoration. Summer Reading starts Monday, June 24 and runs until Friday, August 16.

Conservation as a movement focuses on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. Read, Renew, Repeat encourages reading as a restorative method of self-improvement and self-preservation. (©2024 iReadⓇ)

There are so many ways to Read, Renew, Repeat – it’s hard to figure out where to start! If you’re looking for inspiration, check out our book lists with ideas for readers of all ages and interests.

Sign Up
Sign up begins on Monday, June 17 for kids entering preK to 5th grade! Stop by the table outside the library doors to register, get your Summer Tracker, and pick up a temporary tattoo. Kids can register throughout the summer by stopping by the Children’s Desk.
For little ones younger than preK, check out our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten page for tracking reading throughout the year!
Log Your Reading
The goal is to read every day. You don’t have to read anything specific, you just have to pick something to read that you enjoy. When you read every day, reading becomes a habit and a part of your daily routine. As you read more, you become a more active, engaged, and inquisitive reader.

What reading counts?

ALL OF IT! Reading by yourself; reading with someone else. Listening to an audiobook; listening to someone else reading. Reading magazines. Reading something easy. Reading something hard.
It’s all reading.
Log your daily reading by coloring in a shape on your tracker. There is no counting minutes or books read. You’re not competing to see if you can read the most. The goal is just to read every day, building a habit and growing your world.
Each week that you read every day, you can come into the library and pick out a Read, Renew, Repeat button. Try to collect a button for each week of Summer Reading!
Join a Community of Readers!
Each time you get to pick out a button for your week of reading, you’ll also add a sticker to our Summer Reading Wall. You’ll get to see how many other kids in Melrose are reading with you!
Don’t worry, there’s Summer Reading fun for all ages! Check out what we have for Tweens/Teens and Adults.
Programs and Activities
Find out about all our summer events and activities on the events calendar. Registration is required for programs. Please check age guidance when signing up for programs. Our programs are outside and weather permitting.

Story Times

Join the Children’s Room staff on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for Sing Along Stories (ages 0-3) and on Monday afternoons for Book Buddies (ages 4-7).

Elementary Programs

Explore your creative side with programs for K-2 (ages 5-7) and 3rd-5th (ages 8-10) that will vary from crafts to experiments to artistic endeavors.

Family Programs

There’s a lot to enjoy as a family at the Melrose Public Library this summer. Rockabye Beats will be back to put on a concert in July. There will be Twilight Tales, a dance party, a Family Feud-style competition night, and a Puzzle Swap! Don’t forget to sign up to visit the Whale Mobile when it comes to town in August.

The Massachusetts Statewide Summer Library Program is funded by the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Kids’ Summer Reading programming is sponsored by the Friends of the Melrose Public Library.