Summer Reading Club
BC Summer Reading Club is a free literacy program designed to engage children, ages 5-12, with libraries and reading, throughout the summer.
BC Summer Reading Club is sponsored by the British Columbia Library Association with the generous assistance of Public Libraries Branch, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and CUPE BC.
Summer Reading Club starts June 16!
How to Participate and Get Your Summer Reading Club Medal
- Families can join in the fun by picking up a Reading Record in person at any VPL Branch beginning on June 16, while supplies last. Families can also make an account to use the Online Reading Tracker.
- Set a goal for the Summer! From June 16 until September, try one or more challenging daily activities for around 15 minutes a day.
- For each day that you try an activity, keep track of what you did. You can use your Online Reading Tracker record or a printed Reading Record you pick up at a branch.
- After you have done 49 days of activities, visit any VPL location to ask for your medal. Participants do not need to turn in anything (showing us your Reading Record is optional!) but we do want to hear about your favourite activities and adventures!
- You don’t need a library card to join Summer Reading Club, however, if you are a Vancouver resident, you can sign up for a free VPL card at vpl.ca/librarycard.
What kind of activity can you do to earn your medal?
Something challenging! | Something Fun!
Below are some ideas to get you started, but there are many more things you can do - it's up to you!
- Read! Enjoy a book, graphic novel, magazine article or comic book.
- Listen! Share a story in person, download an audiobook or listen to a podcast.
- Write! Compose a story, blog post, or letter to a friend.
- Create! Draw an illustration, make a sculpture or bake a masterpiece.
- Engage! Attend a program, visit a branch, or explore your own community.
Special Events
One Earth with Anuradha Rao
Friday, July 18, 2025 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Hasting Branch
Join author, scientist and activist Anuradha Rao, author of One Earth: People of Colour Protecting our Planet and find ways that YOU can connect to nature and take action to preserve it. Anu brings a unique local perspective as the Senior Environmental Specialist, Marine Ecosystems for Tsleil-Waututh Nation. She will tell you about her work, bring interesting specimens and leave you inspired! Feel free to bring a picture or an item from nature that reminds you of your family or your culture.
Registration required. For kids going into grades 4-7.
Video Game Creation with Greg Lobanov
Monday, July 21, 2025 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm | Champlain Heights Branch
You decide what happens! Join local video game creator and internet sensation Greg Lobanov of Wishes Unlimited Games in making a group video game project. Get silly and connect with other kids as you work together on this group masterpiece. Accompanying adults will be invited to take a video of the finished product at the end as a personal keepsake.
Registration required. For kids going into grades 4-7.
Urban Safari Rescue Society
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Fraserview Branch
Experience the world of exotic animal rescue with Urban Safari Rescue Society. Their live animal presentation will feature approximately 10-12 animals and artifacts including insects, arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. After the presentation, browse the library collection to learn more about the animals you have experienced! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration required. For kids going into grades K-7.
Zine Making with Chris Bose
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 1:30 - 2:30 pm | Fraserview Branch
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Kensington Branch
Join former Indigenous Storyteller in Residence Chris Bose in this fun, free form Zine making session. “Zine” is short for “Magazine!” You will get to take your own tiny self-made zine creation home and impress all your friends! Once the workshop is done, Library staff will photocopy your creation and add it to the collection at the library, so other kids can borrow and read your work!
Registration required. For kids going into grades 4-7.
Booklists
Looking for something great to read? These lists of fun and interesting books will keep you busy all summer long!
Starting Out - Beginner Readers (VPL)
For kids who are still being read to and are just starting out on their learning to read adventure. This combination of picture books and early readers is fun, cozy and engaging.
On My Way - Intermediate Readers (VPL)
For kids who are getting into simple chapter books and graphic novels. This list is full of laughter, fun and friendship!
Up for the Challenge - Advanced Readers (VPL)
For those voracious readers who just can't get enough! These longer graphic novels and novels are full of adventure, kid-power, and imagination!
Club de lecture d'été 2025 Recommendations pour 1ère à 7e année
Pour tout âge et habilités. Cette liste contient des recommandations pour des enfants en recherche d'humour, de mystère, de frissons et plus encore.
Library Programs
Participate in Summer Reading Club programs happening all summer. Check the Events Calendar for details.
Contests and Prizes
Incredible Shrinking Axolotl!
Visit your local library branch to find the Incredible Shrinking Axolotl! Write the secret code word on the ballot and enter to win a prize!
Guess How Many?
Visit your local library branch and guess how many LEGOs are in the jar. Enter your answer in the branch for a chance to win a prize!
Kids going into Grades 4 - 7 can submit art, prose and poetry to the Page by Page contest.
Summer Reading Club for Tweens
We have special programs and contests just for kids going into grades 4 – 7!
Click here to see our list of programs exclusively for Tweens.
Tween BINGO Challenge
- Complete the Tween BINGO challenge for your chance to win a $75 Bookstore Gift Card.
- Return your completed BINGO sheet to any VPL location.
- Earn one entry for every BINGO row completed (blackout earns 7 entries).
- Only open to kids who live in Vancouver and will be entering Grades 4 – 7 in September.
- Submissions must be received by Sunday, August 31 at 5:00 PM.
Page by Page
- Submit your art, poetry and prose to the Page by Page contest.
SRC & Accessibility
VPL’s Children's Services is working to make our programs accessible to all Vancouver kids. Please email us at childrens.teens@vpl.ca to let us know how our program facilitators can support you to participate fully and comfortably. To learn more about accessibility at Vancouver Public Library, please click here.
Vancouver Public Library works with the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA). With your library card, Vancouver residents who have a print disability can register for this service on their own, or with Accessible Services. Please ask at your local branch or call 604-331-4100 to speak to our Accessible Services department.
Similarly, the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) is an online public library of downloadable ebooks and audiobooks for Vancouver residents with print disabilities, which include vision, mobility, and comprehension impairments that prevent someone from being able to read a traditional book. Accessible Services registration is required to access this digital collection.
For more information about how BCSRC is working on inclusion and accessibility, please visit their Accessibility Toolkit.
Notes for Grownups
The Summer Reading Club is a great way for children to practice or improve their reading skills and to continue learning new things over the summer months.
The program welcomes school-aged children of all ages and their families to participate in a variety of free and inclusive activities and programs starting June 16, 2025
Feel free to take part in Summer Reading Club activities in any way that works for your child and family.
Each activity or challenge can be done more than once and can be mixed and matched for optimal fun and learning. For example, some children may choose to read for all 49 days, while others may decide to read for 30 days and then try some Summer Reading Club activities for the remaining time. It’s all up to them!
If you have questions about the Vancouver Public Library’s Summer Reading Club Program or would like more reading or listening suggestions, contact us at children.teens@vpl.ca
Contact Us
Upcoming Events
-
Join us online to discover new books and connect with other kids. Fantasy, adventure, laugh-out-loud books and graphic novels - each month has a different focus. For Tweens in Grades 4-7. This month we'll be talking about books by Indigenous...
3:45pm – 4:45pm
Online Event -
Join us for a story program with fun games, rhymes and activities. The adventure changes each time! For Grades K – 3. VPL's Children's Services is working to make our programs accessible to all Vancouver kids. Please email us at...
11:00am – 12:00pm
Central Library -
Meet other kids and share books, crafts, and fun activities at the library. For Grades K-7. Children's Services is working to make our programs accessible to all Vancouver kids. Please email us at childrens.teens@vpl.ca to let us know how our...
2:30pm – 3:30pm
South Hill Branch