Reading Challenges

Join us for our Spring 2025 Reading Challenge: Branching Out!

Branch Out of your normal routine and... Read new genres! Explore the Library’s outside spaces! Take a closer look around Bentonville! Connect with Nature! This reading is ALL AGES and part of our seasonal campaign for all things Nature!  Pick up a Book Bingo at the Information or Children's Desks or sign into Beanstack to start logging your reading.

Readers come in all ages and interests, but we're all one reading community. Here's how BPL can sate your reading needs.

The concept is simple; the rewards are priceless! Read 1,000 books to your child before he or she enters kindergarten. It may sound daunting, but think of it this way:

If you read 1 book each day, you'll finish the program in 3 years.

If you read 3 books each day, you'll finish the program in 1 year.Reading together forms strong bonds between child and caregiver. It also increases vocabulary, encourages imagination, builds listening and communication skills, and helps children learn about the world around them. Establishing a reading routine at a young age could inspire a love of books that lasts a lifetime - so let's get started!

How to participate:

• Register in person at BPL's children's desk or through the Library's Beanstack page.
• On your reading log, mark off one circle for each book you and your child read together.
• When your log is complete, bring it to the library for a milestone keepsake and your next log.
• If you prefer to record your reading digitally, download the free Beanstack app. You will receive a notification each time you've earned a prize.

Prizes:

• Your child will earn a milestone “brag tag” for every 100 books read.
• At 1,000 books, your child will receive a free book and an invitation to an annual celebration for that year’s finishers. Your child will also be recognized with his or her name inside a new library book for all to see!

Frequently Asked Questions:

• When can I start tracking the books my child and I read together?
  • You can start tracking books the day you register for the program!
• How long do we have to finish the program?
  • 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is self-paced and can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to complete. There’s no deadline as long as you finish before your child enters kindergarten.
• Can my child complete the program more than once?
  • Yes, children are welcome to complete the program up to one time each year until they enter kindergarten.
• What books count toward the program?
  • Each and every book you read to your child counts - including ebooks and audiobooks! You can also include books read by teachers, librarians, and other caregivers. Does your child like to listen to the same book over and over again? You can log that book each time you read it!
• Can we read books in languages other than English?
  • Absolutely! We encourage caregivers to read in any language they prefer.
• Do you have a reading program for school age children too?
  • Yes, children who have already started school are encouraged to participate in the Ethan Putt Pledge.

To learn more about this program, please visit the library.

Readers in Kindergarten - 6th grade are encouraged to join the Ethan Putt Pledge! This program was created to honor a young BPL patron who had a passion for reading. Reading was never a chore for Ethan. He challenged himself to read at least 40 books a year!

Kids who read and record at least 40 books during the year will be recognized with their name placed inside a new library book for all to see. To register, stop by the Library's children's desk or visit our Beanstack page.

Summer Reading Club is just around the corner!

Summer is for reading, and this year we're discovering ways to Color Our World. From June 2 to July 31, we invite you to embark on a journey of art and creativity, celebrating the myriad ways in which art enriches our lives. We'll have decorations, programs, and other exciting features designed to inspire and engage readers of all ages through a diverse array of artistic expressions.

Starting in May, you can register for the Summer Reading Club by visiting BPL's Beanstack page, downloading and registering on the free Beanstack app for Apple or Android, or by visiting Bentonville Public Library's Children's desk.

Get the whole family involved with Teen and Adult Summer Reading Clubs, too!

Program details for pre-readers - rising 6th grader:

• Earn a small prize for every three hours you read, up to 12 hours.
• Complete 15 hours of reading to receive a certificate for a FREE BOOK from the Friends of the Bentonville Library Read it Again Book Store and an entry into a grand prize drawing.
• After the first 15 hours you read, you'll earn an extra entry into the grand prize drawing for each additional 3 hours. 
• Random prize drawings will take place throughout the summer. Any child who has logged minutes in Beanstack during the week of the drawing will be eligible to win.
• Paper logs will be available at information desks starting June 2.

Important dates to note:

Monday, June 2nd - Summer Reading begins! Start reading and logging your minutes.

Thursday, July 31st - Last day to log reading and pick up prizes. 

Friday, August 1 - Grand prize drawings for all ages

Happy Reading!