Cherry Hill Public Library

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Early Literacy & Kids Summer Reading Programs

Colorful banner featuring a dinosaur and an open book, "Unearth a Story

Monday, June 22 – Monday, August 10

View and download the June, July and August Summer Events packets.

Register & Log Your Reading Here!

Early Literacy (Ages 0-5)

A close-up of a friendly green dinosaur's head with big eyes

This program supports the development of early literacy skills that foster a lifelong love of reading. Complete six or more mission activities from the CHPL Early Literacy Mission to earn a free book and one virtual raffle ticket for one of our grand prizes!

Kids (Ages 5-11 or Grades K-5)*

A child reading a large book with a blue dinosaur nearby

Every minute you spend reading earns you 1 point! Reach milestones of 300, 600, 1000, and 3500 points to receive exciting prizes. Log your reading every week for the chance to win a $10 Five Below Gift Card. Use your points to enter raffles for one of our grand prizes awarded at the end of the summer.

*Caregivers are welcome to register their children for the Summer Reading program that best fits their needs, especially if they are between Pre-K & Kindergarten or 5th & 6th grade. Click here to learn about the Teen Summer Reading Program for grades 6-12.

2026 Unearth A Story: Art Contest

Prompt: This year’s summer reading theme is dinosaurs and archaeology/paleontology. Create an art piece inspired by a historical event (you have all of history to choose from) or dinosaurs/animals alive during the Mesozoic Era. This gives you a lot of choices!

Submission Window: June 29th – August 2nd. Click here for the contest submission form.

Required: Participating artists MUST attend the Art Contest Night on August 4, 6PM-7PM, to display their submissions for the community to vote on.

Prizes:

  • 1st place winners from each age category will receive a $50 gift card to Maple Shade Arts & Drafting
  • 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $25 gift cards to Maple Shade Arts & Drafting
  • All winners will have the option of displaying their artwork in the library

Questions? Email Katie Helf at khelf@chplnj.org.

Click here to join the Art Contest

Our Summer Reading Programs are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Click here for more information about the Friends and how you can join!

Free Book

Complete 6 or more activities from the Early Literacy Mission to earn a free book to keep! This prize must be redeemed in person at the library. We will have a cart of children’s books which you can choose from.

Grand Prizes

  • Eric Carle Basket
  • Dinosaur Basket
  • Please Touch Museum 12-Month Membership (for a family of 3)
  • Tonie Box 2 Bundle (One Tonie Box and 4 Tonie Figures)
  • $100 Gift to Inkwood Books in Haddonfield
  • Cherry Hill Kids First Swim School Basket (includes vouchers for one month of free group swim lessons and one month of free family swim on Sundays)

After completing at least 6 activities from the Early Literacy Mission, you will also earn one raffle ticket for one of our grand prizes! You can choose the raffle you want to enter in your Readsquared Account. If you’re having trouble, call our Youth Services staff at 856.667.0300 opt 4, email chplkids@chplnj.org or stop by the library and we’ll help you.

Milestone Prizes

  • 300 Points = Dino Glider
  • 600 Points = Free Kids Meal at Raising Cane’s
  • 1000 Points = Free Book
  • 3500 Points = Surprise! (limited to the first few kids who log 3500 points)

Automatically earn prizes for the first 300, 600, 1000, and 3500 minutes of reading you log! Prizes must be redeemed in person at the library and are limited in supply. Make sure to visit the library ASAP after reaching these awesome milestones to pick up your prizes.

Weekly Raffle Drawing

Log your reading each week to be automatically entered into our weekly raffle drawing for a $10 Five Below Gift Card.

Grand Prizes

  • $100 Gift Card to Inkwood Books in Haddonfield
  • $100 Gift Card to Sky Zone
  • $100 AMC Gift Card
  • Edelman Fossil Park & Museum Silver Membership (One Year)
  • Archeology Basket
  • Paleontology Basket
  • Baby Sitter’s Club Basket
  • Warriors by Erin Hunter Basket
  • Dog Man Basket
  • Arts & Crafts Basket
  • Cherry Hill Kids First Swim School Basket (includes vouchers for one month of free group swim lessons and one month of free family swim on Sundays)

For every 300 minutes (5 hours) of reading logged, earn one virtual raffle ticket which you can put towards any of our grand prizes. The more you read, the more raffle tickets you can earn. Grand Prize winners will be drawn and notified on Tuesday, August 18.

Who can participate in the library’s summer reading programs?

Cherry Hill Public Library cardholders can register for our summer reading programs. Starting Monday, June 22 you can register for the program you want to participate in at chplnj.readsquared.com.

What if I don’t have a library card?

If you don’t have your own Cherry Hill Library Card, you can use a family member’s card to register. Only one family member or relative needs to have a CHPL card for everyone in the family to be able to sign up for our summer reading programs. If you live in Cherry Hill and/or attend a school located in Cherry Hill, you are eligible to sign up for a free library card at the Circulation Desk. Visit our “Get a Library Card” Page to find out more.

How do the programs work?

Depending on the program you sign up for, log your reading or complete missions between June 22 and August 10 for a chance to win prizes!

Is Summer Reading only for kids?

We have summer reading programs and prizes for all ages!

Click here for info about the Teen Summer Reading Program.
Click here for info about the Adult Summer Reading Program.

What kind of books can I read?

If you are in the Kids, Teens, or Adult Summer Reading programs, you can read anything you’d like including print/digital books, audiobooks, graphic novels, magazines, and more.

Early Literacy participants do not log reading; they only need to complete activities in the Early Literacy Mission in Readsquared.

I participated in summer reading last year. Can I use the same Readsquared account?

Nope! Everyone has to create brand new Readsquared accounts for all of our Summer Reading programs.

How will I know if I have a prize to pick up?

You will receive an email notification and a Readsquared notification when you have a prize to pick up. All prizes must be redeemed in person at the library.

But I have more questions!

Ok, ok! Just email our Children’s Department at CHPLKids@chplnj.org and one of our staff members will get back to you.

We have so many exciting library events this summer for all ages. Some programs require registration and are limited to certain age groups. Visit our Library Events Calendar (click here) to view and register for our library events.

Registration for youth programs opens on the 15th of the month before at 10 a.m.

Jumpin Jamie: Jump Into Dinosaurs!
Wednesday, June 24 • 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. • Conference Center, Lower Level
For ages 3-10 years old.
Registration required.

Family Dance Party
Thursday, July 2 • 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. • Conference Center, Lower Level
For ages 2-5 and their caregivers. No registration required.

Stories in the Park: Barclay Farmstead
Presented in partnership with Cherry Hill Recreation.
Friday, July 10 • 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. • Weather permitting
For all ages. No registration required.

Great Dino Baby Race!
Thursday, July 23 • 12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m. • Conference Center, Lower Level
For crawling babies only.
Registration required for babies participating in the race.

Little Archaeologists Story Time
Presented by The American Swedish Historical Museum
Thursday, July 30 • 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. • Story Time & Craft Room, Upper Level
For ages 2-6.
Registration required.

What the Vikings Left Behind: An Archaeology Program for Kids
Presented by The American Swedish Historical Museum
Thursday, August 6 • 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. • Story Time & Craft Room, Upper Level
For ages 6-12.
Registration required.

Mr. Foamtastic Foam Party!
Tuesday, August 4 • 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. • Friendship Grove (weather permitting)
For children of all ages. No registration required.
Rain date: Friday, August 7 at 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Stories in the Park: Croft Farm
Presented in partnership with Cherry Hill Recreation.
Friday, August 14 • 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. • Weather permitting
For all ages. No registration required.

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Cherry Hill Public Library

1100 Kings Highway North
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034-1911
856.667.0300
Fax: 856.667.9503
info@chplnj.org

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