2026 Children’s Summer Reading Program
Saturday, June 20 – Saturday, August 1

Get ready to grow your reading garden!

Sign up for summer reading from June 15 – 19 to get a prize! Registration stays open through Saturday, July 11, so there’s still time to jump in and grow. Set your reading goal, dig into great books, and turn in your completed finisher slips for a FINISHER Prize bag full of goodies, pick out a FREE book, and get entered for a chance to win of our SPROUT-tacular Grand Prizes!

Finisher bags will be ready to harvest starting Monday, July 13.

SPROUT-tacular Grand Prizes
Summer Reading Program finishers can enter for a chance to win:

• $300 Meijer Gift Card + Plant Stuffy + Needoh
• $200 Meijer Gift Card + Plant Stuffy + Needoh
• $100 Meijer Gift Card + Plant Stuffy + Needoh
• Indoor Amusement Center + Plant Stuffy + Needoh
• Frederick Meijer Garden Membership + Plant Stuffy + Needoh
• John Ball Zoo Membership + Plant Stuffy + Needoh
  PLUS: SPROUT-TACULAR GRAND PRIZE PICKS you can enter for a chance to win!

Little Seeds, Big Stories: Watch Us Grow Kick-Off Party
Saturday, June 20 from 10 AM – NOON
(Outdoors – Weather Permitting) (All Ages)
Celebrate the kick-off of summer reading by signing up at our Kick-Off Party! Enjoy an inflatable bounce house, inflatable obstacle course, craft stations, air-brush tattoos, popsicles, popcorn, and more!

TUESDAYS

Nature Tales & Trails
Tuesdays @ 10 AM (Preschool – 5th Grade)
Explore, imagine, and create in the great outdoors! We’ll share stories, enjoy nature-based activities, and make fun crafts inspired by the world around us.
Special Event: Bugs, Books and Beyond with Don Newman on June 30 @ 10 AM!

Branching Out!
Tuesdays @ 2 PM (Middle School – High School)
Let your curiosity bloom! Teens/tweens are invited to dig into hands-on art, nature, gardening, and pollinator adventures with special guest presenters!

• Botanical Coaster Painting • June 23 @ 2 PM
  Put down roots in creativity and paint nature-inspired coasters that are sure to grow on you!
• Bloom & Brush: Botanical Watercolor Basics with Kristina Spitzner • June 30 @ 2 PM
  Learn how to paint vibrant flowers and leafy designs step-by-step, then leave with your own finished botanical masterpiece. Registration Required.
• Nature Close Up – Kalamazoo Nature Center • July 7 @ 2 PM
  Drop in for a wild experience featuring two LIVE animals, plus fun bio-facts and an up-close look.
• Clay Geode Art • July 14 @ 2 PM
  Get your hands dirty and watch your creativity bloom as you sculpt colorful geode-inspired art.
• Chula Vista Garden Club • July 21 @ 2 PM
  Sow some new skills and discover how gardens grow as you create something beautiful with the experts from Chula Vista Garden Club.
• Beekeeping with Abbott Farms • July 28 @ 2 PM
  Get the buzz on bees! Meet a local beekeeper and discover how honey bees run the hive, make honey, and help keep our world blooming.

WEDNESDAYS

Tiny Sprouts
Wednesdays @ 10 AM (Birth – 5 Years Old)
Perfect for our littlest learners! Explore nature through songs, sensory play, and simple activities designed to spark curiosity and connection.

Wild Wonders Wednesday
Wednesdays @ 2 PM (Preschool – 5th Grade)
Get ready for exciting presenters, interactive activities, and unforgettable experiences all centered around the wonders of nature.

• Magic By Thomas • June 24 @ 2 PM
  The show features a colorful fast-paced program of family friendly magic and laughs. Thomas specializes in close-up magic, parlor magic, stage illusions, and magic with puppets. 
  
• All About Bugs! • July 1 @ 2 PM
  Join us as we paint a cute bug-themed canvas featuring some of nature’s tiniest creatures. From bright butterflies to busy ladybugs, you’ll create your own masterpiece to take home while learning about the amazing insects that help our gardens grow.
• Movie Day – The Lorax • July 8 @ 2 PM
  © 2012 • Animated/Family/Adventure • 1h 26m • PG
  Join us for a fun family movie about a boy who learns the importance of caring for the world around him. Free popcorn included!
  NOTE: The library does not allow pillows or blankets.
• Wacky Foam Party with Joel Tacey • July 15 @ 2 PM
  Join Joel Tacey for an unforgettable foam party filled with music and dancing. Run, play, and burn off some energy as the foam flies. Be sure to wear clothes that can get wet and messy, and don’t forget a towel for afterward.
• Blake Harms, WOOD TV8 – Meteorologist • July 22 @ 2 PM
  Ever wonder how meteorologists predict the weather? Join Storm Team 8 meteorologist Blake Harms for a fun and fascinating presentation about weather, forecasting, and the science behind storms. Get ready to explore the world of weather and have your questions answered by a real meteorologist!
• Beekeeping with Abbott Farms • July 29 @ 2 PM
  Buzz into the fascinating world of bees! Join a local beekeeper to learn how honey bees live, work together, and play a vital role in pollinating the plants we depend on every day. Discover the inner workings of a hive, how honey is made, and what you can do to help protect these incredible insects. This educational presentation is perfect for curious minds of all ages!

Plots & Petals Book Club
Every Other Wednesdays @ 2 PM • (Middle School – High School)
June 24, July 8, and July 22
A blooming book club—bring what you’re reading, share your favorites, and watch new stories grow.

Ink & Ivy Writing Club 
Every Other Wednesdays @ 2 PM • (Middle School – High School)
July 1, July 15, and July 29
Where nature meets creative writing—fun prompts and challenges where ideas twist, climb, and grow.

THURSDAYS

Nature Makers Science Club
Thursdays @ 10 AM (Preschool – 5th Grade)
A perfect blend of creativity and curiosity! Experiment, craft, and explore your way through nature-themed projects designed for hands-on learning and discovery.

Nature Studio
Thursdays @ 2 PM (Middle School – High School)

• Painted Flower Pots • July 25 @ 2 PM
  Spruce up a plain flower pot and give your creativity a place to take root.
• Movie Day – The Secret Garden • July 2 @ 2 PM
  © 2020 • Family/Fantasy/Drama • 1h 40m • PG
  Explore a magical garden filled with wonder, friendship, and adventure. Free popcorn included!
  NOTE: The library does not allow pillows or blankets.
  
• Bird-feeder Art • July 9 @ 2 PM
  Scatter a little creativity and craft a feeder that’s sure to attract a flock of fans.
• Wood Wind Chimes • July 16 @ 2 PM
  Branch out with a handmade wind chime that brings a little garden music to the breeze.
• Cottagecore Rock Painting • July 23 @ 2 PM
  Unearth your artistic side and transform ordinary rocks into charming cottagecore creations.
• Metal Beaded Bookmarks • July 30 @ 2 PM
  Leaf your place in style with a custom bookmark that’s ready to grow your reading adventures.

DAILY

Sprout & Seek: Downtown Otsego Scavenger Hunt
June 20 – August 1 (All Ages)

Downtown Otsego is blooming for the Summer Reading Program! Local businesses and community organizations have different “sprouts” hidden in their windows, including flowers, fruits, and veggies. Pick up a list at the library and dig into this fun, garden themed scavenger hunt. Once you’ve gathered them all, return your sheet to the library and harvest a special prize!

Scholastic Book Fair (All Ages)
June 9 – 27 • DURING OPEN LIBRARY HOURS
Let your children and grandchildren select some fun summer reading materials to celebrate their accomplishments in school this past year and encourage a love of reading all summer long! The library earns 50% of the profits to use toward FREE books for the library’s collection and future programs.

Weekly Prize Drawing 
Attend programs and complete activities to earn weekly prize tickets. Kid’s activities for prizes will be in the Children’s Section and Teen/Tween trivia for prizes will be in the Teen Room.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM FLYERS

Kids Flyer Birth – 5th Grade

Teen/Tween Flyer  Middle School – High School