Our 2026 Summer Reading Challenge is easy and fun for all ages 0-101! Pick up the game board for your age group in the library or participate online. Read, explore the library, and be engaged this summer as you complete activity spaces on your game board to earn prizes.
Limit one game board, whether online or paper, per participant.
Online Participation Rules
Register online starting Monday, June 1 for your age group (Ages 0-3, Ages 4-11, Ages 12-17, or Adult) and then stop into the library to retrieve your participation prize (while supplies last).
Complete the game board as desired, outlined in the Game Play section below.
Mark all desired challenges as complete by 11:59pm Friday, July 31, 2026.
Paper Participation Rules
Register in person at the library starting Monday, June 1 to pick up a game board for your age group (Ages 0-3, Ages 4-11, Ages 12-17, or Adult) and retrieve your participation prize (while supplies last).
Complete the game board as desired, outlined in the Game Play section below. Clearly mark completed game spaces and enter required codes legibly on the provided lines.
Turn in the completed game board to the library by 4:00pm Friday, July 31, 2026. Completing every challenge is not necessary to turn in the game board.
Game Play
As you complete challenges, you can stop in to pick up earned prizes, or you can collect all when you turn in your game board prior to the deadline.
Earn a prize for each completed challenge on the game board:
-
- four corners
- each color-coded section
- four Chance spaces
Each completed challenge also earns one entry into the ages 0-3 grand prize drawing for a $50 Visa gift card.
To be eligible, please turn in the game board to the Library by 4:00pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating on paper or by 11:59pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating online.
As you complete challenges, you can stop in to pick up earned prizes, or you can collect all when you turn in your game board prior to the deadline.
Earn a prize for each completed challenge on the game board:
-
- four corners
- each color-coded section
- four Chance spaces
Each completed challenge also earns one entry into the ages 4-11 grand prize drawing for a $50 Visa gift card.
To be eligible, please turn in the game board to the Library by 4:00pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating on paper or by 11:59pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating online.
As you complete challenges, you can stop in to pick up earned prizes, or you can collect all when you turn in your game board prior to the deadline.
Earn a prize for each completed challenge on the game board:
-
- four corners
- each color-coded section
- four Chance spaces
Each completed challenge also earns one entry into the ages 12-17 grand prize drawing for a $50 Visa gift card.
To be eligible, please turn in the game board to the Library by 4:00pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating on paper or by 11:59pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating online.
Chance
Complete all four Chance challenges (identified by a question mark symbol) to earn 1 (one) entry into an ages 12-17 drawing for a $20 Chocolate Boutique gift card.
Codes for each Chance space can be found at the participating local businesses and must be entered legibly on the provided lines for paper participation. For online play, submit the codes in the Chance mission.
To be eligible, please turn in the game board to the Library by 4:00pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating on paper or by 11:59pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating online.
Note: No purchase is required to obtain the codes.
Play to Earn Points for Prize Shop
Four Corners
Complete all 4 (four) corner challenges to earn 1 (one) point toward the prize shop.
Colors
Complete all 4 (four) challenges in each color. Each completed color earns points toward the prize shop.
- Green = 2 (two) points
- Red = 3 (three) points
- Gold = 4 (four) points
- Purple = 5 (five) points
Players will chose prizes from the prize shop based on total points earned.
Chance
Complete all 4 (four) Chance challenges (identified by a question mark symbol) to earn 1 (one) point toward the prize shop and 1 (one) entry into a drawing for a local gift card.
Codes for each Chance space can be found at the participating local businesses and must be entered legibly on the provided lines for paper participation. For online play, submit the codes in the Chance mission.
To be eligible, please turn in the game board to the Library by 4:00pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating on paper or by 11:59pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 for those participating online.
Note: No purchase is required to obtain the codes.
Play to Earn Entries for Grand Prize Gift Card Drawing, a $50 VISA gift card
Four Corners and Colors
Complete all 4 (four) corners to earn 1 (one) entry into grand prize drawing.
Complete all 4 (four) challenges in a color to earn 1 (one) entry into grand prize drawing. Earn up to 4 (four) total entries.
Bonus
Complete all challenges on the board to earn 1 (one) entry into our grand prize drawing.
Prize Shop
For paper participation, complete the prize shop form to pick your prizes using earned points. The form will be provided when the completed game board is turned into library staff. Turn in your prize shop form by 7:00pm on Monday, August 10, 2026.
For online participation, pick out your prizes in the online prize shop using earned points. The online prize shop will close at 11:59pm on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Activity Resources
The following are some resources you can use to help complete your game board:
Overdrive/Libby has a collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and popular magazines that can be downloaded to your device!
Hoopla is available to Howell Library District residents and has a collection of ebooks, audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and TV shows.
Use Kanopy to find movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films and educational videos that inspire, enrich and entertain. Kanopy is available to Howell Library District residents only.
Novelist Plus can be used to find read-alikes for books and authors you loved and to explore unfamiliar genres. Give it a try to find a new favorite book!
Every year, the Library of Michigan selects up to twenty of the most notable books written by a Michigan resident or about Michigan or the Great Lakes. Browse the 2026 Michigan Notable Books or explore books recognized in previous years!
Learn a new language using Pronunciator!
Interested in trying a new genre? Use this Genre Guide to learn about the different genres and where to find those books in the library!
The Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) program is a statewide collaborative effort between Michigan’s public libraries and participating destinations including museums, state parks, and other arts and cultural organizations.
Enjoy watching a teen movie based on a book and write a review about your movie choice.
Browse these tips for help completing the Adult Summer Reading Challenge.
Watch an upcoming Virtual Author Talk, which have virtual events featuring authors that write for a variety of ages!