Reading Challenges

How to Participate

Register by visiting the Library's Beanstack page or downloading the free Beanstack app.  You can also stop by Bentonville Public Library's children's desk to register.

 Start reading! Earn prizes by logging the minutes you read from June 3rd to July 31.

For pre-readers - rising 6^th graders:

• Earn a small prize for every three hours you read, up to 12 hours.
• Complete 15 hours of reading for a FREE BOOK and an entry into a grand prize drawing.
• You'll earn an extra entry into the grand prize drawing for each additional 3 hours you read, after 15.
• 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.
• If you'd like to record your reading on a paper log, pick one up at the Library.

For teens entering 7^th - 12th grade:

• Enjoy weekly ‘big prize’ drawings for prizes like books and gift cards all summer long!  One hour of reading = one entry to the prize of your choice. 
• Complete 15 hours of reading for a FREE BOOK.
• Participate in our Teen Summer Reading Bingo to earn entries for our grand prize.

For adults 18 years and older:

• Enjoy weekly gift card drawings for participating!
• One hour of reading = one entry to the prize of your choice. 
• Complete 30 hours of reading for an entry into a grand prize drawing.

Key Dates

• Monday, June 3rd - Summer Reading begins! Start reading and logging your minutes
• Monday, July 15th - First day to pick up prize books
• Wednesday, July 31st - Last day to log reading
• Thursday, August 1st - Grand prize drawings for all ages

Library Events

Find all of our events on our website calendar.

Sponsors

• Program Sponsor: Friends of the Bentonville Public Library
• Arkansas Arts Council
• ReaderLink

Partners

• Bentonville Public Schools
• Bentonville Library Foundation
• City of Bentonville

Bentonville Public Library wants kids to maintain good reading habits on their holiday breaks! Between Thanksgiving and Winter breaks, the Library hosts a Cozy Reading Club where kids earn fun prizes just for reading. Details about Cozy Reading Club are announced each November.

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.

Complete reading challenges all year long with BPL's Beanstack challenges. Register for the monthly challenge, record your reading, and earn cool digital badges along the way. Beanstack challenges are open to patrons of all ages.

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.