2026 Summer Reading Program: Plant a Seed, Read!
June 29 – August 14
Plant a Seed, Read! is the theme of this year’s summer reading program. It is rooted in the concept of farm-to-table. A farm grows food that nourishes our bodies; a library grows ideas that nourish our minds. Both food and stories connect us to our family, culture, economy, and ecology. iREAD 2026: Plant a Seed, Read will provide a context for exploring culture, history, science, health, and human connection
Visit the APL between June 29 – August 14 for free weekly programs and special events for all ages.
Signing up is easy. Just give us a call (508-222-0157) to find out more.
And let’s not forget the reading in “summer reading”! The APL wants to help students avoid the
summer slide when not engaged in learning during school vacation. The staff are ready to help you find the best books for you to enjoy all summer long!
Communitywide Summer Reading Kickoff
Tuesday, June 29
10:00-11:30am
Balfour Riverwalk Park
The APL is excited to host the summer reading kickoff in Balfour Riverwalk Park. At this fun, free event, sign up for the Summer Reading Program; enjoy games and activities; and visit information tables hosted by summer reading partners across the City.
(In case of rain, this event will be held inside the Attleboro Public Library.)
SCHOOL SUMMER READING LISTS FROM ATTLEBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Students entering grades 1-4
Students entering grade 5
Students entering grades 6
Students entering grade 7
Students entering grade 8
Students entering high school (grades 9-12)
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER READING
Families with CHILDREN 3 years old – entering grade 4
Stories! Programs! Crafts! Prizes! Fun!
Visit the Children’s Room to pick up your reading log! Fill in a circle for every day that you read (or are read to) for at least 20 minutes or more.
Logging your reading time earns you super fun prizes:
– Ten (10) days of reading for 20 minutes or more: A book plate with your name in a new picture book in the Children’s Room.
– Twenty-five (25) days of reading for 20 minutes or more: A Star Reader lawn sign. This sign lets everyone know what a great reader you are!
– Forty (40) or more days of reading for 20 minutes or more: WOW! That’s a lot of reading! You will be entered into a drawing for one of multiple grand prizes.
Contact Mrs. Brown (kbrown@sailsinc.org) with any questions,
TWEENS & TEENS entering grades 5-12
Calling all students entering grades 5-12! There are three fun ways for you to participate in Summer Reading:
– Log your reading using this Google form, or use the QR code below. Log at least 500 minutes of reading during the summer to be entered into the grand prize drawing! The first 25 youth to log 500 minutes of reading will also receive an APL Star Reader lawn sign (limited to one per family)!
– Visit the APL for a daily scratch ticket! Stop by the Children’s Room desk to request one. Your ticket might be an instant winner for prizes like a book, a local gift card, a mystery box item, or other exciting choices. All non-winning tickets may be filled out with your contact information and returned to be entered into a grand prize drawing at the end of the summer.
– Stop by the library to pick up a copy of the library’s mascot Melvin to decorate! Submit a photo (up to one per week) of your Flat Melvin reading, attending a library program, visiting the Library, out in the community, etc. Submit your Flat Melvin photo to mwitherell@sailsinc.org. (Remember: These photos may be used on the APL’s social media, so please get your parent’s permission, especially if you are in the photo with Melvin!) Each photo you submit gets you another entry into the summer reading grand prize for 5th-12th graders!
There will also be fun, weekly summer events to attend, including craft club (ex., Perler beads), game nights (ex., BINGO!), Dungeons & Dragons sessions, and book groups! APL’s event calendar has program descriptions for everything!
ADULTS
The Library wants as many adults to Level Up their summer reading experience too, so there are a lot of fun programs to enjoy! Adult Summer Reading is all about making it a challenge for YOU – maybe you only want to count a certain type or reading, or reading done in a particular place. Make the challenge your own; anything counts!
Participation is easy. Read or listen to any book you like. Mark off your tracker bookmark in 30-minute increments. When you’ve finished filling out your tracker, return it to the Library or record your time in our Google sheet in order to win prizes.
Submit your trackers by Friday, August 14, in order to be eligible to win prizes. All participants who submit a tracker or attend an Adult Summer Reading program will be invited to attend our Adult Summer Reading party on Friday, August 7, from 6-8pm, and receive an entry into our prize drawing.
Level Up your Adult Summer Reading experience by recording the books you read or attending one of our adult programs.
Contact Stephanie (Shalcomb@sailsinc.org) with any questions, and most of all, have fun!
Sponsored by the Attleboro Public Library, the Friends of Attleboro Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Plant A Seed, Read! © 2026 iREAD
