Summer Reading Program

ROAR into the Summer! This year’s theme is Unearth a Story: Desentierra una Historia with dinosaurs galore! We will have Reading Challenges and events for all ages, the annual summer Art Contest for ages 5-17 and our Writing Contest for adults. There’s fun for everyone, with prizes too!

Reading Challenges

Register for the Bryan + College Station Summer Reading Program. When you register online for Summer Reading, you are signing up to read for 30 total days, and you can read anything! As you “level up” through the 30 days, you’ll earn badges, bragging rights and the chance to win prizes. You will also be able to write book reviews for the books you love and want others to read.

With four program levels to choose from, everyone is invited to participate. Each reader can select the level that best fits their needs!

Early Literacy: ages 5 and under
Children: ages 6-12
Teen: ages 13-17
Adult: ages 18 and up

Once you have read for thirty days and have logged your reading, you will be awarded completion prizes (while supplies last) and will automatically be entered into Grand Prize Drawings for a chance to win great prizes! Each branch will have grand prize winner as follows:

Early Literacy Level Prize: Dinosaur Fantastic Creatures Car Toys and a Crinkle Book
Children Level Prize: 1 year Family Membership to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a set of walkie talkies and Anditoy Dinosaur Building Set
Teen Level Prize: Dino Goodie Bag featuring Jurassic Park movies and more
Adult Level Prize: Cozy Reading Basket featuring Dungeon Crawler by Matt Dinniman and more

Art Contest

The Summer Annual Art Contest this year truly embraces the theme Unearth a Story: Desentierra una Historia!

The Summer Art Contest for 2026 will have patrons voting on which artwork will be the winner for each age category. The voting will be done per library location with one winner per the following age groups:

Ages 5-6
Ages 7-8
Ages 9-10
Ages 11-13
Ages 14-17

Contest Rules

Artwork must be done on an 11” x 8.5” piece of paper, and must not be in a frame. Anything bigger or in a frame will not be accepted.
Artwork will be accepted from July 1-15; artwork brought in after July 15th will not be accepted. It must also be created no earlier than June 1, 2025 and accompanied by a digital or print Copyright/Photo Release form.
On the back of each creation the following information must be provided:
- name of artist
- age of artist
- an email or phone number of legal guardian, where staff can contact if the artwork is selected as a winner
All artwork must be picked up from the library where it was submitted by August 28 or we will be forced to discard it.

Judging

Artwork will be arranged by age category at both Mounce and Ringer.
Patrons will be able to view the artwork and vote on two creations from each age category.
Voting will take place from July 20-26.
Age Category winners will be contacted by August 1.

Prizes

Ages 5-6
Paint Your Own Dinosaur Lamp Kit
Ages 7-8
National Geographic Kids Stained Glass Kit
Ages 9-10
National Geographic Pull Back Dinosaur Race Cars Craft Kit
Ages 11-13
D-FantiX Dinosaur Toys Terrarium Kit
Ages 14-17
Dinosaur Sketchbook with Accessories

Grand Prize Art Contest Winner

The Grand Prize Winner will be voted upon by library staff. All age category winners from both locations will be eligible.
The Grand Prize Winner will be contacted by August 7.
This winner will have their artwork featured on our 2027 Brazos Valley Children’s Literary Festival: Open a Book, Open a World t-shirt. The winner will be awarded a t-shirt and recognized at the Festival. Save the date March 20, 2027!