Welcome, Museum Explorers!
Join the Children's Library on our Midnight at the Museum Summer Reading Challenge. We have chosen some fun reading activities, awesome books, and amazing prizes!
There are two different paths to explore the ocean depths: a game for children from birth to kindergarten and another for children in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Starting on Tuesday, June 20th, sign up online via Beanstack then stop by the library for a paper challenge card and your free prize book! You can read any way you want from checking out physical books, downloading e-Books, or listening to audiobooks.
Choose Which Wing You'll Explore
Registered Last Year?
Did you play online last year for Summer Reading? There's no need to create a new account! You may look up your account using the email address you used last year. Once you log in, you can select this year's challenge on the first day of Summer Reading! If you need assistance, please send us an email at childrenslibrary@darienlibrary.org.Pre-Readers
Pre-Reader Challenge
This summer, explore the five Early Literacy skills of reading, writing, singing, talking, and playing as part of the Midnight at the Museum Pre-Reader Summer Challenge.
How to Play
Starting on June 20th, sign up online via Beanstack then stop by the Library for a paper challenge card and your free prize book! Have an account from last year? When you log in, you can select this year's challenge on the first day of Summer Reading.
Readers will complete activities (called badges on Beanstack). For each activity that you complete, you earn one ticket that you can enter into one of our Prize Basket drawings.
Participants must select which of the prizes they would like to win on Beanstack after they complete each badge. Winners of the prize baskets will be selected after the Summer Reading challenge has ended.
Play Ideas
Birth to five is a huge developmental range, that's why we have included activities that can be adjusted to fit the needs of your child. Make it as easy or challenging as you would like!
For example, "Find a triangle, a circle, and a square":
- For a younger baby, use a 3D object like a block to show them the shape and let them touch it and play with it.
- For a toddler, when reading together ask them to find a triangle on the page.
- For a preschooler, ask them to find triangles in everyday objects and talk to them about the different kinds of triangles.
These challenges are starting points for learning and exploration, feel free to get creative with them!
Need ideas on how to adjust the challenges? Ask a children's librarian or follow us on Instagram @DarienChildrensLibrary for ideas!
Kindergarten to 6th Grade
Midnight at the Museum
Starting on June 20th, sign up online via Beanstack, then stop by the Library for a paper challenge card and your free prize book!
Have an account from last year? When you log in, you can select this year's challenge on the first day of Summer Reading!
How to Play
Readers will complete activities (called badges on Beanstack) in any order. Reading activities can be completed by reading physical books, e-books, or listening to audiobooks. Participants can count any books they read between June 20th and August 13th.
For each activity that you complete, you earn one ticket that you can enter into one of our Prize Basket drawings.
Participants may log their challenges on their paper map then upload their answers through Beanstack.
Some Books to Try
- Read a biography
- Read an award-winning book
- Read a book with a red cover
- Read a book with a museum in it
- Read a book with a human that doesn't look or live like you
How to Win
Participants must select which of the prizes they would like to win on Beanstack after they complete each badge.
Everyone who completes 10 of the 16 challenges by August 13th will win a Summer Reading t-shirt. Winners of the prize baskets will be selected after the Summer Reading challenge has ended.
Books You'll Love
Summer Reading is made possible by the generous support of the Marion Moore Foundation.
