Summer Reading Program

Bright and colorful icons like a rainbox, books, balloon, paintbrushes surrounding Summer Reading Program text

Color our world this summer

May 27 - August 9, 2025

Stay busy this summer reading and attending events!

Available to readers of all ages and abilities, babies through adults. Participants will receive a gamecard to track their summer reading goals.

Prizes available starting Monday, June 9, 2025. Children's prizes include gift certificates for Blank Park Zoo and the Iowa Children's Museum as well as a free book! Adults and teens can get a coupon for a free book at The Book End bookstore and be entered into the grand prize drawings for a downtown gift card.

Track your reading online

If you have time for a quick question, let us know how did you hear about the summer reading program?

Downloads

Resources

Sponsors

A big thank you to the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation for sponsoring the prizes!

Color your world!

Upcoming Events

All library patrons, regardless of age or neurodiversity can participate in our Summer Reading Programs. We will be happy to customize reading programs and activities to meet the individual needs of our patrons. Please contact Angela Pilkington for more information.

Upcoming events

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Kids Families Storytimes

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Color our world, and celebrate diverse cultures from around the globe! Every Wednesday during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a new event where they can explore and experience unique cultures and traditions...

Tweens Kids Families

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

As part of our partnership with Bur Oak, Next Gen Land Stewards are invited to learn about pollinators and the importance of keeping them hydrated during the hottest summer months. Then, assemble a bee drinking fountain.

Teens Classes & Workshops Science & Technology

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Casey leads ukulele music, singing, instruments, and movement. All Abilities Club programs are designed for those who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities, offering an inclusive, lower-stimulation, and...

Adults Teens Tweens Kids Music

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 4:00pm

Storytime Room

Calling all science lovers in 3rd-6th grade! Every Wednesday from June 11 - July 16, join West High students Flora and Tina for hands-on activities about physics, the scientific study of matter and energy. Figure out how gravity works, experiment...

Tweens Science & Technology

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 10:00am

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Clever Lyrics. Superb Music. Outrageous Fun for All Ages. With his guitar, tap shoes, and distinct baritone, Duke Otherwise sings his hilarious and imaginative songs for all ages to delight in together. Duke is a playful Wordsmith. A spirited...

Tweens Kids Families Music

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Everything is better teeny! Compete for the cutest clay creation ever. We’ll have a series of challenges and winner gets a teeny clay trophy.

Teens Arts & Crafting

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Clever Lyrics. Superb Music. Outrageous Fun for All Ages. With his guitar, tap shoes, and distinct baritone, Duke Otherwise sings his hilarious and imaginative songs for all ages to delight in together. Duke is a playful Wordsmith. A spirited...

Tweens Kids Families

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Roughly translated as "cuteness," kawaii describes the Japanese cultural trend of celebrating all things tiny and adorable. Join children's librarian Casey for a tutorial and experiment with drawing your favorite Pokemon characters...

Tweens

Friday, July 11, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Kids Families Storytimes

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Color our world, and celebrate diverse cultures from around the globe! Every Wednesday during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a new event where they can explore and experience unique cultures and traditions...

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

As part of our partnership with Bur Oak, Next Gen Land Stewards are invited to learn about pollinators and the importance of keeping them hydrated during the hottest summer months. Then, assemble a bee drinking fountain.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Casey leads ukulele music, singing, instruments, and movement. All Abilities Club programs are designed for those who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities, offering an inclusive, lower-stimulation, and...

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 4:00pm

Storytime Room

Calling all science lovers in 3rd-6th grade! Every Wednesday from June 11 - July 16, join West High students Flora and Tina for hands-on activities about physics, the scientific study of matter and energy. Figure out how gravity works, experiment...

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 10:00am

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Clever Lyrics. Superb Music. Outrageous Fun for All Ages. With his guitar, tap shoes, and distinct baritone, Duke Otherwise sings his hilarious and imaginative songs for all ages to delight in together. Duke is a playful Wordsmith. A spirited...

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Clever Lyrics. Superb Music. Outrageous Fun for All Ages. With his guitar, tap shoes, and distinct baritone, Duke Otherwise sings his hilarious and imaginative songs for all ages to delight in together. Duke is a playful Wordsmith. A spirited...

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Everything is better teeny! Compete for the cutest clay creation ever. We’ll have a series of challenges and winner gets a teeny clay trophy.

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Roughly translated as "cuteness," kawaii describes the Japanese cultural trend of celebrating all things tiny and adorable. Join children's librarian Casey for a tutorial and experiment with drawing your favorite Pokemon characters...

Friday, July 11, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

There are no upcoming events.

There are no upcoming events.

Thursday, August 7, 2025 - 10:00am

Wetherby Park

All good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go out with splash…or blast! Join us anytime between 10am-12pm at Wetherby Park (2400 Taylor Dr, Iowa City, IA) outdoor area to play with bubbles, experience a mega foam blaster...

Thursday, August 7, 2025 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Create a sparkling, mosaic-like keychain by following a pattern to place tiny rhinestones.

Friday, August 8, 2025 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

snow white movie poster

“Disney’s Snow White” is a live-action musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film. The magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.Take a break from the...

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Color our world, and celebrate diverse cultures from around the globe! Every Wednesday during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a new event where they can explore and experience unique cultures and traditions...

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Get hands-on with exciting science experiments led by the UI Science Booster Club! All Abilities Club programs are designed for those who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities, offering an inclusive, lower-...

Thursday, July 24, 2025 - 10:00am

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Get up close and hands-on with a variety of exotic animals with Wild Times Exotics. Wild Times Exotics is a fully licensed and insured Zoo to You program visiting ICPL for the first time! Zoo expert Lacey offers a hands on approach to animal...

Thursday, July 24, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Get up close and hands-on with a variety of exotic animals with Wild Times Exotics. Wild Times Exotics is a fully licensed and insured Zoo to You program visiting ICPL for the first time! Zoo expert Lacey offers a hands on approach to animal...

Friday, July 25, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Friday, July 25, 2025 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

sonic movie poster

Sonic, Knuckles and Tails reunite to battle Shadow, a mysterious new enemy with powers unlike anything they've faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, they seek out an unlikely alliance to stop Shadow and protect the planet...

Saturday, July 26, 2025 - 10:30am

Storytime Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Sunday, July 27, 2025 - 2:00pm

Storytime Room

Let's embrace the summer heat with a summertime cactus craft! Maybe you are taking a road trip this summer to a very hot place where the roads are lined with prickly pears or tall saguaros. Make your own road trip ready cactus from your own...

Monday, July 28, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...