Children’s Summer Reading
2026 Children's Summer Reading
*When printing the Bookmark Challenges from home, select “flip on short edge” when printing double sided.*
2026 Children's Summer Reading Challenge
“Plant a Seed, Read” with the Windham Public Library Children’s Summer Reading Program from June 17 – August 31.
Earn prizes by coloring in all the leaves on your bookmark! Once you’ve read (or been read to) for eight hours your bookmark will be complete! Turn it in for a prize. There’s no limit to how many bookmarks you can fill out. Each bookmark additionally has a raffle ticket at the bottom. Fill this out to be entered into a prize for a gift certificate to a local business.
Turn in completed bookmarks by August 31st!
Register and get your materials in person at the Children’s Room desk starting June 17th or sign up online and print a copy from home.
Summer Reading Events!
Nurturing Playtime
Tuesdays @ 10:15 - 11:15 am
A play group aimed at ages 0-36 months and their favorite adults, as well as expectant parents. Each week will start with a short rhyme and song session followed by open play and parent chat. Sometimes special guests such as lactation consultants will attend.
Preschool Story Time
Wednesdays and Thursdays @ 10:30 - 11:00 am
Children up to age 5 and their parents/caregivers are invited to join us. This interactive program includes stories, songs, fingerplays, dancing and more. Will meet outdoors, weather permitting. Feel free to bring your own seating.
Wonder Wednesdays
Wednesdays, June 17 - August 19 @ 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Join Miss Megan for a series of programs designed to stretch the imagination and develop critical thinking skills. These programs are geared for ages 5-10, but parents/caregivers and siblings are encouraged to stay too. You never know what might happen any given week! (But feel free to ask)
Plant Pots
Monday, June 29th @ 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Decorate a terracotta plant pot of your very own! We’ll be painting, so wear appropriate clothing. For ages 5 and up.
Mr. Drew and His Animals Too (OFF SITE @ Middle School)
Tuesday, June 30 @ 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Are you interested in animals? Love reptiles? Then we have a show for you! Join Mr. Drew in seeing some awesome creatures and learn all about their lives. This program will be at Windham Middle School. Aimed at ages 3 and up. This is the first of two Mr. Drew shows this summer.
American Girl Tea Party
Monday, July 6 @ 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Celebrate history and America’s 250th Birthday with an American Girl Tea Party! There will be tea, crafts, small treats, and more. Feel free to bring a doll with you. For ages 5 and up.
Story Time (OFF SITE @ Black Brook Preserve)
Thursday, July 9 @ 10:30 - 11:30 am
Join the Windham Public Library and the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust for a story time and nature walk at Black Brook Preserve. We’ll read a story at the beginning of the trailhead and then take a guided walk through the preserves with a scavenger hunt! This program is for families with kids ages 2-5, siblings welcome.
Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Tuesday, July 14 - Wednesday, July 15
What kind of mischief can your stuffed friend get up to at the library? Drop them off for our sleepover to find out. Participants will get a slideshow of their friends’ activities, and a small surprise. Friends should be dropped off during the library's open hours on July 14th and picked up on the 15th. Registration required.
Mr. Drew and His Animals Too (OFF SITE @ Middle School)
Wednesday, July 15 @ 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Are you interested in animals? Love reptiles? Then we have a show for you! Join Mr. Drew in seeing some awesome creatures and learn all about their lives. This program will be at Windham Middle School. Aimed at ages 3 and up. This is the second of two Mr. Drew shows this summer.
Nature Journaling with Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation
Monday, July 20 @ 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Join Kristie Munson from the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conversation and Windham Public Library staff as we explore the green areas around the library! We’ll learn to identify trees and plants through journaling and scavenger hunts. For ages 5 and up.
The Creation of Monster Locker with Andrés Vera Martínez
Tuesday, July 28 @ 4-5 pm
Join the Windham Public Library staff in welcoming Andrés Vera Martínez, co-creator and illustrator of the series Monster Locker. He’ll discuss the process of making a graphic novel and give students some tips on creating their own comic stories and art. There will be time for book purchasing and signing at the end. For grades 4-8.
A central Texas Tejano, Andrés Vera Martínez is the co-creator and illustrator of the graphic novel series Monster Locker. A recipient of the ALA Sydney Taylor Honor and the Texas Institute of Letters Frederick Luis Aldama Award, Andrés’s work has been recognized by The New York Times, NPR, and the Society of Illustrators. He now resides in coastal Maine with his family.
Fear No Fruit!
Wednesday, July 29 @ 3:30-4:30 pm
Come join Miss Diana (author of Simply Produce) to explore the amazing world of fresh fruits and vegetables. Young patrons will get to smell ripe strawberries, squeeze peaches, peel bananas like monkeys do, feel cool cucumbers, and taste the sweet end of orange slices. This hands-on program exposes young patrons to timeless information about produce and encourages them to try new ones. Grown-up monkeys are welcome to join in the fun.
Escape Room: Case of the Stolen Plant
Monday, August 3 @ 10:30 am - 5:30 pm
You know this is going to be the year that you win Best Plant at the Windham Public Library’s Plant Contest. Disaster strikes and your plant goes missing! It’s up to you and your friends to find the plant and bring it back before judging begins. Sign up for a time for up to 6 people to solve the crime.
Story Time with Horses! (OFF SITE @ MSSPA)
Thursday, August 6 @ 10:30 - 11:30 am
Join us at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals to have a story time with horses! We’ll read books and do our normal story time routine, and then after that we’ll have time for questions and visiting horses. Aimed at kids ages 2-7.
Nature Walk (OFF SITE @ Donnabeth Lippmann Park)
Monday, August 10 @ 10:00 - 11:00 am
Join the Windham Public Library for a nature walk at Donnabeth Lippman Park. We’ll read a story at the beginning of the trailhead and then take a walk with a scavenger hunt! This program is for families.
For more information please contact the children’s room at 207-892-1908 ext. 4.