Children’s Summer Reading
2025 Children's Summer Reading
*When printing the Bookmark Challenges from home, select “flip on short edge” when printing double sided.*
2025 Children's Summer Reading Challenge
Level Up with the Windham Public Library Children’s Summer Reading Program! From June 16 – August 29 we will have programs, activities, and challenges to engage your brain and body and help you learn about yourself.
Earn prizes by completing seven out of ten activities on your bookmarks! The first bookmark earns you a free book! Fill out more bookmarks to earn more prizes. Each bookmark can be entered into one of our special prize raffles!
Turn in completed bookmarks by August 29th!
Register and get your materials in person at the Children’s Room desk starting June 16th or sign up online and print a copy from home.
Build Your Own Character
*When printing at home, select “flip on long edge” when printing double sided.*
Build a cool character as you read!
The more you read, the stronger your character gets. Use quotes to show off your character. Track your progress and get creative. The whole family can participate!
The Emerging Reader Character Sheet is great for younger kids or those who are still building reading and writing skills. It keeps things simple with three categories, and grown-ups can help with any writing.
The Full Character Sheet is a good fit for kids who are reading on their own and ready to dive a little deeper, picking quotes and building out a more detailed RPG-style character as they read.
Summer Reading Events!
Nurturing Playtime
Tuesdays @ 10:15 - 11:15 am
Join library and Be the Influence staff for 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 25 - August 20 @ 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Join Alexis, Miss Sam, and Alison from 4-H for a series of programs designed to stretch the imagination and develop critical thinking skills. These programs are geared for ages 5-12, but parents/caregivers and siblings are encouraged to stay too.
1st Wednesdays: LEGO Club. 2nd Wednesdays: STEM Toys. 3rd Wednesdays: Fun with 4-H. 4th Wednesdays: Tabletop Games. Some programs will be outside, weather permitting.
Build-a-Book
Monday, July 7 @ 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Have you ever wanted to write your own book? Join Miss Sam and Alexis in creating a book that will go on display in the library.
For ages 5-12, parents and siblings welcome.
Story Time With Horses! (OFF-SITE)
Wednesday, July 9 @ 10:30 am - 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.
Comic Workshop
Wednesday, July 9 @ 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Love to read comics but feel daunted by making your own? This is the perfect opportunity to get comfortable with the comic format. We'll explore making three-panel comics that humorously reinterpret literary works in the style of Lisa Brown or Kate Beaton. By the end of this session, each student will have created their own three-panel comic. The library will provide pens, colored pencils, crayons, and drawing supplies. For ages 10 and up.
Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Tuesday, July 15 - Wednesday, July 16
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 15th and picked up on the 16th. One stuffed animal per child, registration required.
Super Mario Brothers Interactive Movie
Thursday, July 17 @ 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Are you a fan of Super Mario? Join us for this interactive movie! We’ll have props and a script for you to use to enhance the movie experience. This will not be a calm quiet show!
Movie summary: Based on the Super Mario video games, the animated film follows Mario on his adventures with his friends. Mario joins forces with Princess Peach and Toad. The trio is in search of Mario's brother Luigi. Together, they hope to defeat the evil Bowser and save the Mushroom Kingdom from his destructive schemes. (2023, PG, 92 minutes)
Nuturing Playtime (OFF SITE)
Tuesday, July 22 @ 10:15 - 11:15 am
Join us for a special Nurturing Playtime with local musician Emilia Dahlin! We’ll learn how singing supports the whole child and the acquisition of early literacy skills while having FUN! Presented by BTI, Windham Public Library and Raymond Village Library association with the Bingham Foundation. Held at the Windham Town Hall Park, with a rain location of the Windham Public Library. Aimed at ages 0-36 months and their favorite caregivers.
Mr. Drew and His Animals Too (OFF-SITE)
Friday, July 25 @ 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 life. This program will be at Windham Middle School. Aimed at ages 3 and up.
Silly Sandwiches
Wednesday, July 30 @ 3-4 pm
What kind of things do you like to put on sandwiches? Try some fun new combinations with Alola. This program is geared for ages 5-12, but parents/caregivers and siblings are encouraged to stay too.
Tree Identification
Wednesday, July 30 @ 6:00-7:00 pm
Are you tired of seeing the forest and missing the trees? Come to the library for an introduction to tree identification with a Maine Master Naturalist and get into the details. For interested people of all ages, this class will cover the basic skills needed to identify our local trees and use both the library’s holdings and digital tools to expand your knowledge. The learning will be hands-on and outside, so dress accordingly.
Pollinators Party!
Friday, August 1 @ 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Bees and butterflies and birds—oh my! We’ll have all sorts of fun activities that teach you about our local pollinators, including a scavenger hunt, a pollinator toss, and some coloring pages. You can also learn about our new Observing Pollinators kit (from the National Library of Medicine) which is part of our growing Library of Things collection. All ages welcome. Rain or shine.
Developed resources reported here are supported by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH) under cooperative agreement number UG4L M012347. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
The Incredibles Interactive Movie
Thursday, August 7 @ 1:00 - 3:00 pm
All ages are invited to don their superhero costumes and join our weekly Movie Time group in a special, interactive showing of "The Incredibles!"
Movie Summary: Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl had been among the world's greatest crime fighters until they were forced to retreat to the suburbs to live normal lives with their three kids. Fifteen years later, itching to get back into action, Mr. Incredible gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him for a top secret assignment. (2004, PG, 115 min.)
Smoothie Making
Monday, August 18 @ 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Do you enjoy smoothies but aren't sure how to make them? Maybe you want to learn some new recipes? Join us for smoothie making with Alola. This program is aimed at grades 2-6, but parents/caregivers and siblings are encouraged to stay too.
For more information please contact the children’s room at 207-892-1908 ext. 4.