Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Storytm
The theme for this year’s summer reading program is dinosaurs, paleontology, and archaeology. These topics were consistently cited as high-interest areas for children and families, offering rich opportunities to spark curiosity, imagination, and learning across all age groups.
The slogan, Unearth a Story,tm was chosen to align with this theme in a way that invites layered interpretation. Whether readers are digging into a good book, uncovering hidden histories, or exploring the past, the slogan underscores the joy of discovery that reading brings.
We hope you can join us this summer and Unearth a Storytm by participating in our events and by reading! The goal of the program is to encourage people of all ages to read at least twenty minutes a day. We also offer several activity-based programs that encourage community building and cooperative work. Every person, regardless of their age, who participates by reading at least one “book “will receive a free print book at the end of the program.
What do we mean by “book”?
When we use the text “book”, we mean books, audiobooks, newspapers, and magazines. We are just using “book” so we don’t have to type “books, audiobooks, newspapers, and magazine” again and again 🙂
Program Overview
- Start date: Thursday, June 11th
- End date: Thursday, July 30th
- Event times: Usually the events are Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Bruce Area Library
- Some weeks we also have a Wednesday program
- Some programs start at 5 p.m.
- Some programs are not at the Bruce Area Library
- Free snacks at every event
- All events are free and family-friendly
- Parent / guardian attendance for children under 12 is required for all events.
Please see the event list for the event schedule.
Event List
Click here for a printable version of the event list.
Thursday, June 11 – Summer Reading Kickoff Party
- Come unearth a story and learn about rabbits.
- Time: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Bruce Area Library
Thursday, June 18 – Dinosaur Bones
- Come make paper dinosaurs or assemble a 3d dinosaur model
- Time: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Bruce Area Library
Wednesday, June 24 – Kiwanis ‘n Cops ‘ n Kids
- Join us for story time with a police officer
- Time: 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
- Location: Bruce Village Park
- Sponsored by the Blue Hills Kiwanis
Thursday, June 25 – The Magic of Isaiah
- Join us for a magic show
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Bruce Area Library (if it rains the event will be held at the Bruce School)
- Please bring a chair or a blanket to sit on.
- Website: https://lacrossemagic.com/
Thursday, July 2 – Lego Night
- Come celebrate the 250th anniversary of Independence Day by creating something out of Lego
- Time: 6 00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Bruce Area Library
Thursday, July 9 – Messy Dinos
- Learn how to make slime and how to use clay to make a dinosaur
- Time: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Bruce Area Library
- Smocks will be provided.
Thursday, July 16 – Snake Discovery
- Learn about reptiles, lizards, geckos, and snakes. After the presentation, attendees have an opportunity to touch and hold the reptiles.
- Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Location: American Legion Hall
- Website: https://snakediscovery.com/
Wednesday, July 22- Kiwanis ‘n Cops ‘ n Kids
- Join us for story time with a police officer
- Time: 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
- Location: Bruce Village Park
- Sponsored by the Blue Hills Kiwanis
Thursday, July 23 – Dinosaur Eggs
- Come dig up dinosaur eggs and crack open a fossil.
- Time: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Bruce Village Park
Thursday, July 30 – Summer Reading Finale
- Join us for a picnic and prize drawings as we celebrate how much we read!
- Time: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Bruce Area Library
Tracking Your Reading
Our reading program is designed to let you track both how long you read each day as well as how many “books” you read. You do not have to do both – you can just track how long you read each day, or how many things you read, or both.
There are two logs you can use to track your reading:
- Using a Weekly Reading Prize Log
- This tracks how long you read each day.
- The goal is at least twenty minutes a day.
- If you do this twice a week, you can spin a wheel or roll a die to win a prize each week!
- Using the Summer Reading Log – this lets you track how many “books” you read during the program. You can pick one up at the library or print one yourself. Every “book” you read gets you a raffle ticket in our Grand Prize Drawing on the last day of the program.
Weekly Reading Prize Log
Children 12 and under:
Children 12 and under who read at least twice a week for twenty minutes each day get to spin a wheel for a prize. You can only earn one Daily Reading Log Spin per week.
People over 12:
Anyone over the age of 12 who read at least twice a week for twenty minutes each day get to roll a die for a prize. You can only earn one Daily Reading Log Roll per week.
- You must bring your Reading Prize Sheet to the library and show it to a staff member to get your spin or roll. If you do not bring it with you, you will not be able to spin the wheel.
- If you misplace your sheet, ask for a new one – there is no charge for this.
Reading Log
- This can used by everyone regardless of their age.
- Log every item you read for chances to win one of the grand prizes.
- Every “book” you read or listen to gets you an entry in the grand prize drawing. Just put the title on the Reading Log.
- Copies of the paper log are available at the library. You can also download a copy of the Reading Log and print it at home.
- Logs must be returned by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29th..
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I read to someone else?
If you read a book to another person (i.e. a child or someone unable to read) or several people at the same time, that counts towards their daily reading and as a book read for you and each person you read to.
What if I read the same book to a child more than once?
If you read a book to another person (i.e. a child or someone unable to read) more than once, each time counts towards their daily reading and as a book read for you and each person you read to.
Do Audiobooks, E-books, Magazines, and Newspapers Count?
Audiobooks, e-books, magazines, and newspapers are tracked just like print books – the format of the reading material is not important – what is important is trying to read for at least twenty minutes a day.
What if I Read / Listen to Long “Books”?
Books longer than five hundred pages or twenty hours are treated as two books. For example, if you read a 900-page book or listen to a book that is more than twenty hours long it counts as two books. Enter the title of the book twice in your reading log.
I Have a different question
Email us, call us, or come to the library and we will be happy to help you! Remember, there are no stupid questions. If you have a question, chances are someone else has the same question.
Sponsors
We are very fortunate to have many sponsors who have given us coupons, gift certificates, and other items which will be used for prizes. We wish to particularly thank the Friends of Bruce library for their $800 donation and JJ Northland Construction for their $300 donation. We will be compiling a list of all of our sponsors and posting it.
