Do you love Squishmallows, the plush toy that's loved the world over for being super soft, huggable, round, and aodrable? We'll play Squishmallow bingo (with prizes!), then create a piece of custom Squishmallow fan art by painting in mini...
Summer Reading Program
Summer reading program 2023 has now finished. Check back next year for our next adventure!
ICPL Reads
June 1 - August 5, 2023
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.
Sign up starting June 1.
If you have time for a quick question, let us know how did you hear about the summer reading program?
Downloads
Resources
- Watch past programs on The Library Channel
- Learn how to log books with Beanstack's mobile app
Sponsors
A big thank you to ACT and the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation for sponsoring the prizes!
Come read with us!
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
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Friday, June 14, 2024 - 9:30am
Bookmobile, Mercer Park
Join us for Stories in the Park all summer long! Note the new Stories in the Park time at 9:30 to beat the midmorning heat! We will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend. We will be...
Friday, June 14, 2024 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing! Catch the original Inside Out just in time for the release of the sequel! After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her...
Saturday, June 15, 2024 - 8:30pm
Other
Join ICPL staff and members of the Cedar Amateur Astronomers for a special ICPL Astronomy Night event at the Eastern Iowa Observatory & Learning Center at the Palisades-Dows Preserve. Members of the CAA will give tours of the facility beginning...
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Elementary-age kids are invited to join us each Tuesday at 1:00 to learn a little bit about a fun skill or hobby that maybe they haven’t tried before! We have experts from the community here to teach you the basics! Do you enjoy singing? Come sing...
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
On Wednesdays during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a different event every week to understand and experience cultures around the world! Embark on a journey into the mesmerizing world of stained glass with...
Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A
Don't just learn science - DO science with the UI Science Booster Club! This event is for 3rd-6th graders.
Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
Bring in a couple of your paperback books with misleading or unpleasant cover designs, and we'll create custom book jackets! After measuring your book, we'll use Canva to make a template you can fill with their clip art, background images you find...
Friday, June 21, 2024 - 10:30am
Digital Media Lab
If you haven't made the switch from books-on-CD to digital e-audiobooks, let us show you the way! The Iowa City Public Library has two sources for free digital audiobooks: Libby and Hoopla. We'll take a look at both interfaces during...
Friday, June 21, 2024 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing! This third installment of the Trolls franchise finds friends Poppy and Branch as a couple. But as they get to know each other more, it is revealed that Branch was...
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Do you love Squishmallows, the plush toy that's loved the world over for being super soft, huggable, round, and aodrable? We'll play Squishmallow bingo (with prizes!), then create a piece of custom Squishmallow fan art by painting in...
Friday, June 14, 2024 - 9:30am
Bookmobile, Mercer Park
Join us for Stories in the Park all summer long! Note the new Stories in the Park time at 9:30 to beat the midmorning heat! We will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend. We will...
Friday, June 14, 2024 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing!
Catch the original Inside Out just in time for the release of the sequel! After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco...
Saturday, June 15, 2024 - 8:30pm
Other
Join ICPL staff and members of the Cedar Amateur Astronomers for a special ICPL Astronomy Night event at the Eastern Iowa Observatory & Learning Center at the Palisades-Dows Preserve.
Members of the CAA will give tours of the facility...
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Elementary-age kids are invited to join us each Tuesday at 1:00 to learn a little bit about a fun skill or hobby that maybe they haven’t tried before! We have experts from the community here to teach you the basics!
Do you enjoy singing?...
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
On Wednesdays during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a different event every week to understand and experience cultures around the world!
Embark on a journey into the mesmerizing world of stained...
Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A
Don't just learn science - DO science with the UI Science Booster Club!
This event is for 3rd-6th graders.
Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
Bring in a couple of your paperback books with misleading or unpleasant cover designs, and we'll create custom book jackets!
After measuring your book, we'll use Canva to make a template you can fill with their clip art, background images...
Friday, June 21, 2024 - 10:30am
Digital Media Lab
If you haven't made the switch from books-on-CD to digital e-audiobooks, let us show you the way!
The Iowa City Public Library has two sources for free digital audiobooks: Libby and Hoopla. We'll take a look at both interfaces...
Friday, June 21, 2024 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing!
This third installment of the Trolls franchise finds friends Poppy and Branch as a couple. But as they get to know each other more, it is revealed that...
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A
Drop in for casual gaming using big, oversized versions of games like Connect 4, bowling, Jenga, UNO, and others.
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental...
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - 7:00pm
Other
Can you think of a better way to take a break from all the summer heat? Join the Let's Talk Books folks for a discussion of some of our favorite Holiday Reads! Break out a few of your favorites and join us for the fun.
Let's Talk Books...
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Frosting and sprinkle choices will allow you to create a custom cookie to your taste! Then join in at craft stations including button making, beaded bracelet making, and more.
This program is intended for people of all ages who are...
Thursday, July 11, 2024 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
Learn how to use the library's Photoshop subscription to correct lighting, repair imperfections, and remove unwanted objects from your photos.
Please register for a library computer with Photoshop or bring your own.
Instructor...
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join Casey for ukulele music, singing, instruments, and movement.
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Saturday, July 20, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Are you a dissectologist? Do you love jigsaw puzzles? Join ICPL's Puzzle Palooza - a two-part event for adults as part of the Adult Summer Reading Program. Doors open at 12:45.
The Puzzle Swap starts at 1:00pm. (Don't be late - swaps are...
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 - 7:00pm
Other
Movies are often based on books. Sometimes they are well done and fans of the book become fans of the film. Other times the words "based on a book" are little more than borrowing of the plot. Missing characters, changed endings or unrecognizable...
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 2:00pm
Meeting Room A
***TIME IS 2:00 PM! This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
You've just been recruited as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift's new tour...
Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A
Whether you're a total newbie or a seasoned gamer, join us to explore a range of the board games available today.
We'll have board games like Calico, Azul, and Splendor available to try and people to teach you how to play, but...
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join the UI Science Booster Club for some fun with hands-on scientific experimentation!
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Thursday, July 11, 2024 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
Learn how to use the library's Photoshop subscription to correct lighting, repair imperfections, and remove unwanted objects from your photos.
Please register for a library computer with Photoshop or bring your own.
Instructor...
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join Casey for ukulele music, singing, instruments, and movement.
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 2:00pm
Meeting Room A
***TIME IS 2:00 PM! This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
You've just been recruited as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift's new tour...
Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A
Whether you're a total newbie or a seasoned gamer, join us to explore a range of the board games available today.
We'll have board games like Calico, Azul, and Splendor available to try and people to teach you how to play, but...
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join the UI Science Booster Club for some fun with hands-on scientific experimentation!
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 6:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
For the month of July, we've been documenting each day in our own ways. Bring your results and anecdotes to this wrap-up and we'll see how it went for everyone.
...
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 7:00pm
Meeting Room A
With prompts from a real poet and no pressure to share what you write, try your hand at penning something poignant.
This workshop will be led by Regina Napolitano, a poet and teacher from Oakland, CA. She is a first-year MFA candidate in...
Thursday, August 8, 2024 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
You know those little looped videos you see on social media? You can make your own!
Learn how to create simple animated GIFs in Photoshop with us.
Instructor: Charlie, Digital Media Lab intern
Registration is required to...
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Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
On Wednesdays during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a different event every week to understand and experience cultures around the world!
Embark on a journey into the mesmerizing world of stained...
Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A
Don't just learn science - DO science with the UI Science Booster Club!
This event is for 3rd-6th graders.
Friday, June 21, 2024 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing!
This third installment of the Trolls franchise finds friends Poppy and Branch as a couple. But as they get to know each other more, it is revealed that...
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Sparkles is an adaptive and inclusive cheer and dance team for students with and without disabilities. Join members of City High and UI Sparkles to watch a performance, learn some cheer terminology and movements, and learn a short cheer routine...
Thursday, June 27, 2024 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
You've just been recruited as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift's new tour! Professional dance instructor Miss Liz from Life's Your Stage Dance Company will teach you new choreography for one of Taylor's most popular songs to...
Friday, June 28, 2024 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing!
The animated film tells the story of a family of ducks dreaming of the perfect getaway vacation. Mack, the overprotective father, cannot take the risk...
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
On Wednesdays during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a different event every week to understand and experience cultures around the world!
Step into the vibrant world of Mexican weaving at Tejido...
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A
Drop in for casual gaming using big, oversized versions of games like Connect 4, bowling, Jenga, UNO, and others.
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental...
Friday, July 5, 2024 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing!
This fantasy musical film follows the story of Willy Wonka, the famous but eccentric chocolatier based on the character from Roald Dahl's novel. In...
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
On Wednesdays during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a different event every week to understand and experience cultures around the world!
Kokeshi (こけし, 小芥子) are simple wooden Japanese dolls with no...