Summer Reading Challenge from Second Lady Usha Vance

Embark on wild adventures, get lost in imagination, and open new worlds of learning and discovery when you accept the Second Lady’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge!

The challenge is open to children in grades K – 8, from now until September 5th. To participate, download the Summer Reading Challenge Tracker and read 12 books of your choice. Completed trackers should be submitted to: read@mail.whitehouse.gov by Friday, Sept. 5 to receive a personalized certificate, a small prize, and entrance into a raffle to visit the Nation’s Capital.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is proud to support Second Lady Usha Vance’s nationwide Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge encourages kindergarten through eighth-grade students to continue their intellectual and personal development. As the nation’s leading supporter of museums and libraries, IMLS recognizes the critical role that public libraries play in ensuring that students have year-round access to books.

All reading done since June 1 counts, so kids can backfill their reading logs. Here’s how the program works:

• Families can print off or download this fillable reading log.
• Fill in the titles and authors of 12 books that a child reads between June 1 and September 5.
• The logs can been emailed directly to read@mail.whitehouse.gov by September 5, 2025
• That’s it!

If you want to promote this program more broadly in your community, check out this page with links to a flyer and social media templates and graphics. You can also learn more about this Challenge here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/read/

It's Time for Summer Reading!

NewHampshire’s public libraries are set to soar to new heights and explore new worlds this summer with the help of the 2019 Summer Reading Program theme, “A Universe of Stories.”

Library patrons of all ages will be invited to explore the galaxies – and our home planet – not only through books, magazines, music and movies, but also through activities and programs offered by their libraries, including a variety of celebrations for NASA’s 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic moon landing.

For many families with children, their public library is the only community space available during the summer months where free educational and cultural activities are available.

The State Library’s “Kids, Books and the Arts” grant program will fund special events by juried performers at libraries across the state, incorporating music, magic, puppetry and storytelling into the “Universe of Stories” theme as a way of making reading even more fun.

Summer reading programming can help children stay motivated to read, maintain their skills during summer vacation and help them develop positive attitudes about reading, books and the library. Program participants are encouraged to read whatever materials they like, including those not directly tied to the “A Universe of Stories” theme.

The New Hampshire State Library promotes excellence in libraries and library services to all New Hampshire residents, by assisting libraries and the people of New Hampshire with rapid access to library and informational resources through the development and coordination of a statewide library/information system; by meeting the informational needs of New Hampshire’s state, county and municipal governments and its libraries; and by serving as a resource for New Hampshire. For more information, visit nh.gov/nhsl.

NH Libraries will ‘Rock Out’ This Summer

New Hampshire libraries will pump up the volume in the coming months for this year’s Summer Reading Program theme, “Libraries Rock!”

Library patrons statewide will be invited to make musical instruments, write songs, learn about music from different countries and be inspired by musicians of all kinds. Books, magazines, movies and more are available for patrons looking for new ways to experience music.

The State Library’s “Kids, Books and the Arts” grant program will fund special events by juried performers at libraries across the state, making the “Libraries Rock” theme even more fun.

Designed to help strengthen literacy skills in young people of all ages, the Summer Reading Program lays the groundwork for preschoolers to become lifelong readers and learners, helps elementary school children develop positive attitudes about reading, and strengthens the high level of literacy that teens need for higher education and future employment.

Students who read at least four books over the summer fare better on reading comprehension tests in the fall than their peers who read one or no books. Nine out of ten kids say they are more likely to finish a book they’ve picked out themselves; summer Reading Program participants may choose to read whichever books they want, including those not related to the “Libraries Rock” theme.

Visit your local library this summer and join in the fun!

On Your Mark, Get Set, READ!

Summertime is a great time to get out and get active. This summer, librarians around New Hampshire are encouraging people of all ages to make sure their reading skills stay in shape as well.

As part of this year’s national Collaborative Summer Library Program theme “On Your Mark, Get Set, READ!” young readers throughout New Hampshire will be visiting their public libraries to check out and read books about sports, fitness and health in their many forms.

Children’s librarians across New Hampshire have embraced the fitness theme and have run with it, creating special summertime programs that focus on a wide range of activities, from the Olympics to nutrition to yoga. Performers from the State Library’s “Kids, Books and the Arts” roster will hold special events at libraries throughout the state.

The importance of summer reading has been known for more than a century. Students who read at least six books during the summer have been found to maintain or improve their reading skills, while those who do not read during the summer can lose a full grade level.

To participate in “On Your Mark, Get Set, READ!” families should visit their local public library. Most libraries ask children to register and then to keep track of how many books they read during the summer months or how much time they spend reading. Participants may also choose to read whichever books they want, even if they’re not related to this year’s theme.

In keeping with the fitness theme, some libraries are offering a summer reading program for teens, “Get in the Game”; the theme for adult readers is “Exercise Your Mind.”

"Dig Into Reading" at local libraries this summer

It's time for summer reading at the library! Here are details from the NH Department of Cultural Resources:

Summertime involves all sorts of digging: planting in the garden, searching for special shells and other treasures, learning more about creatures who live underground, and other exciting exploring.

Libraries are great places to start digging around for all kinds of information, activities and fun. This summer, children’s librarians across New Hampshire are participating in the national Collaborative Summer Library Program by creating special summertime programs based on this year’s slogan, “Dig Into Reading.”

Readers of all ages are encouraged to visit their libraries and make crafts, foods and music related to what can be discovered when you start to dig.

To participate in “Dig Into Reading,” families should visit their local public library. Most libraries ask children to register and then to keep track of how much time they spend reading or how many books they read during the summer months. Libraries may offer participants the opportunity to read whichever books they want, even if they’re not related to this summer’s theme. Children are encouraged to read as much as they can.

In keeping with the underground theme, some libraries are offering a summer reading program for teens, “Beneath the Surface”; this year’s theme for adult readers is “Groundbreaking Reads.”

Students who read during summer months retain more of their reading skills and are better prepared for school in the fall. The Collaborative Summer Reading Program helps encourage children to spend more time enjoying non-assigned reading during the summer months.

“One of the most fun things about summer is combining hands-on activities and learning,” said Ann Hoey, youth services coordinator for the New Hampshire State Library and member of the Children’s Librarians of New Hampshire. “This year’s summer reading theme encourages everyone to explore things that aren’t right out in the open by doing a little ‘digging’ and discovering something they might not have thought of before.”

The New Hampshire State Library promotes excellence in libraries and library services to all New Hampshire residents, by assisting libraries and the people of New Hampshire with rapid access to library and informational resources through the development and coordination of a statewide library/information system; by meeting the informational needs of New Hampshire’s state, county and municipal governments and its libraries; and by serving as a resource for New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.nh.gov/nhsl.

Support NH Summer Reading

To support the New Hampshire Summer Reading program, a partner in the Collaborative Summer Reading Program, you can now order the CHILIS summer reading poster note cards. Each shrink-wrapped packet includes 12 note cards (4 x 5 1/2) featuring artwork from four NH Summer Reading posters*. All proceeds benefit CHILIS and help to fund future Summer Reading programs. Each packet costs $10. Checks should be made payable to CHILIS. Please be sure to follow the directions on the order form and send your orders to Chris Tarrio at the Stephenson Memorial Library in Greenfield. Note cards will only be sent to a public library on the van route. Please make arrangements with a library prior to submitting your order. Note card orders cannot be sent via U.S. mail.
The note cards make wonderful gifts for you and your staff, friends and family!