Summer Reading 2026: Unearth a Story

The New Brunswick Free Public Library’s 2026 summer reading program will run from June 27 through August 21. All ages, from 0 to 100+, are invited to participate! Come to the library during our open hours to learn more about our "Color Our World" summer reading challenges. Here are summaries of each Summer Reading Challenge, per age group:

• Children ages 0-4: Pick up your summer challenge passport and earn stamps with your caregiver by completing activities and attending library programs. After earning 5 stamps, receive sidewalk chalk and choose 3 free books! After earning 10 stamps, receive a ticket to the library fair happening on August 16! (Passports must be completed and stamped before August 16th to earn the ticket to the Fair.)
• Children entering grades K-6: Pick up your summer challenge passport and earn stamps by completing activities, reading books, and attending library programs. For every 5 stamps that you earn, choose 5 free books! After earning 15 stamps, receive a ticket to the library fair happening on August 22! (Passports must be completed and stamped by August 21 to earn the ticket to the Fair.)
  Visit our Kids Page for information about events and resources specifically for children!
• Teens (grades 7-12): Visit the Teen Room to get a Summer Reading log on which to keep track of the number of minutes you read each day, as well as the time spent at library programs, throughout the summer. Reading anything counts -- from blog posts to comic books, magazine articles to novels, etc. -- just keep track of the minutes spent reading as well as at library programs, as each minute goes towards earning a level. Every 400 minutes spent reading or at a program earns a level; each level earns a prize! Teens will need to bring their log and report their reading/participation at the library, preferably when the Teen Room is staffed, to claim their prizes; the best times to do this are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays - Fridays. Teens will earn their first level upon picking up a log, and the maximum level is four. Achieving Level 4 earns teens an invitation to the End of Summer party on Friday, August 21!
  Visit our Teen Page for information about events and resources specifically for teens!
• Adults (ages 18 and up): Pick up a book review slip (or more than one!) in our main lobby or at the Reference Desk. (You may also download this document to print at home. If you do not have the ability to print double-sided, just print the first page.) Return your completed book review(s) between June 27st and August 14th to the Reference Desk, making sure to write your name and contact info on the back of each slip if you want to be entered into prize raffles. Your review(s) will be posted on the bulletin board outside the Reference Room; the more the merrier! Raffle winners will be contacted on Monday, August 17 to come to the library to select their prize. Prizes are first come, first served, and we cannot reserve any prize by requests. Submitting multiple reviews can increase your winning odds. Prizes include gift cards, event tickets, electronic gadgets, household goods, toys, etc. You can see most of the prizes in our main lobby display case.

Visit our Events Page for information about events throughout the summer. View our Summer events brochure in Canva.

View photos from our Summer Kickoff on Flickr, and check back there for more photos throughout the summer!

Thanks to the Friends of the New Brunswick Free Public Library and Constellation for their support!