2026 Summer Reading Program: June 1 - July 11
Quicklinks
Welcome to St. John the Baptist Parish Library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program! This summer, we invite you to “plant a seed” and READ! Just like farms grow food that nourishes our bodies, reading helps us grow ideas that nourish our minds. The annual Summer Reading Challenge offers six weeks of free, family-friendly activities to raise awareness of library resources and establish a strong foundation for lifelong learning. For a full list of library programs, please refer to our online calendar.
St. John the Baptist Parish Library encourages patrons of all ages to log their reading this summer through the Beanstack app or paper logs available through the library. Incentives are given for sign-up and completing the program. Participants who read at least 360 minutes are eligible for a grand prize drawing!
Summer Reading is for everyone. Here’s how it works:
1.
SIGN UP FOR THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM:
2.
READ WHATEVER YOU LIKE:
Complete the program by logging 360 reading minutes, collect your completion incentives, and be entered into a grand prize drawing!
*Children ages 0-3 will have a modified challenge log.
3.
EARN PRIZES & HAVE FUN:
Scan to visit the website stjohnlib.beanstack.org
Sizzlin’ Summer Reading Kick-off Events
Celebrate the start of summer with our 2026 “Plant a Seed, Read” Summer Reading Kick-off! Kids can explore a variety of interactive activities, including a bubble house, snoball truck, creative MakerSpace stations, and a seed planting experience. Each child will receive seeds to take home and nurture their own garden. Budding artists can craft unique seed art using beans and seeds or create colorful chalk art outdoors. Be sure to register during the event; participants of all ages can earn fun incentives just for joining the program.
- LaPlace: Tuesday, June 2, from 4-6 PM
- Garyville: Wednesday, June 3, from 4-6 PM
- Reserve: Thursday, June 4, from 4-6 PM
AGES 0-3
Reading aloud to babies and toddlers builds brain connections, increases vocabulary, and strengthens emotional bonds. This summer, children ages 0-3 will participate in a modified Summer Reading Challenge that balances exposure to reading with activities that promote movement and other pre-literacy skills.
After signing up, stop by any library branch to collect your sticker sheet, mini coloring book, and a reading log with more resources for pre-readers. Remember to redeem your completion prizes at your local library! Children ages 0-3 who complete the reading challenge will receive a bookworm plushie, a coupon for a free corndog at Sonic, a Chick-fil-A kids meal gift card, a Raising Cane's bookmark coupon for a free kid's meal, and an entry into a grand prize drawing. Earn activity badges on the Beanstack app for extra virtual tickets toward the grand prize drawing.
Grand Prize - Gift basket containing a Little Tikes Farmers Market Stand, a Little Tikes Story Dream Machine, a Mushroom Air Fort, and a Toy Story 5 Explore & Learn Lilypad Toy
AGES 4-8
As emerging readers grow into independent readers, a focus on literacy at home expands vocabulary by millions of words, fosters empathy, and enhances imagination while improving attention spans and school readiness.
After signing up, stop by any library branch to collect your bookmark, pencil, and Croc bracelet. Choose five Croc charms and collect more charms as you earn activity badges on Beanstack. Remember to redeem your completion prizes at your local library! Children ages 4-8 who complete the reading challenge will receive a six-color crayon wheel, a plant journal, a coupon for a free corndog at Sonic, a Chick-fil-A kids meal gift card, a Raising Cane's bookmark coupon for a free kid's meal, and an entry into a grand prize drawing. Earn activity badges on the Beanstack app for extra virtual tickets toward the grand prize drawing.
Grand Prize - Gift basket containing an Amazon Fire Kids Tablet and a Yoto Mini Audio Player with a storage case, headphones, and a starter pack of audio cards
AGES 9-11
Healthy reading habits in tweens can improve academic performance and nurture empathy. Continuing to read with tweens also strengthens relationships and opens communication on tricky topics.
After signing up, stop by any library branch to collect your bookmark, pencil, a chamomile plant box, and a growth chart to track the plant's progress this summer. Remember to redeem your completion prizes at your local library! Tweens who complete the reading challenge will receive a sports bag or water bottle, a coupon for a free corndog at Sonic, a Chick-fil-A kids meal gift card, a Raising Cane's bookmark coupon for a free kid's meal, and an entry into a grand prize drawing. Earn activity badges on the Beanstack app for extra virtual tickets toward the grand prize drawing.
Grand Prize - Gift basket containing an Instax Mini Instant Camera, 3D Pen with filament refills, Fuggler Toy, Mini Brands, and a Flowering Cactus LEGO kit
AGES 12-17
Reading acts as a vital stress-relieving escape for teens, providing a safe space to navigate complex social, emotional, and identity issues.
After signing up, stop by any library branch to collect your bookmark, pencil, and book light. Remember to redeem your completion prizes at your local library! Teens who complete the reading challenge will receive a flower ink pen or sports bag, a coupon for a free corndog at Sonic, and an entry into a grand prize drawing. Earn activity badges on the Beanstack app for extra virtual tickets toward the grand prize drawing.
Grand Prize - Gift basket containing a Nintendo Switch Lite and storage case
ADULTS
Summer reading isn’t just for kids! Throughout adulthood, reading has continuous benefits in promoting brain health, slowing mental decline, reducing stress, and fueling creativity.
After signing up, stop by any library branch to collect your complimentary seed packet and bookmark. Remember to redeem your completion prizes at your local library! Adults who complete the reading challenge will receive a tote bag or cooler bag, as well as an entry into a grand prize drawing. Earn activity badges on the Beanstack app for extra virtual tickets toward the grand prize drawing.
Grand Prize - Gift basket containing an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, cookbook, and kitchen accessories
Find Books and More
- Visit our catalog to find materials inside the library.
- hoopla - Hoopla allows adults to instantly borrow e-books, comics, audiobooks, music, movies and television with no holds, and no waiting. And there's no need to worry about late fees; hoopla features an automated service that returns your item once your time is up. Content can be streamed to computers, tablets or smartphones, and can be downloaded to mobile devices to allow for offline viewing any time. You can check out up to 6 items from hoopla each month.
- Overdrive/ Libby - This is a collection of e-books, digital audiobooks, and interactive digital magazines offered by the library. E-books and audiobooks can be downloaded to your computer, tablet, (including Kindle), or mobile device. OverDrive e-book titles can be read online using OverDrive and audiobooks can be listened to online using OverDrive Listen. Streaming video is also available! Mobile and tablet customers, download the Libby app for iOS and Android.
- Bookflix - BookFlix® combines Weston Woods animated stories with best-selling Scholastic nonfiction ebooks to create an engaging, interactive reading experience. It enhances vocabulary, fluency, and early literacy while building real-world knowledge for beginning and developing readers. (Ages 3-8)
- The New York Times Online - Patrons can now enjoy New York Times | All Access. Your access includes the latest news from 1,700 journalists, Wordle and other games, recipes for any occasion, Wirecutter product reviews, and in-depth sports reporting.
- SelectReads - Select Reads is a book list service that allows you to track authors, sign up for customized newsletters, create booklists, send events, and browse new arrivals at St. John the Baptist Parish Library.