August Reading Challenges:
Genre Challenge, 2026 Summer Learning Challenge, & Back to School Reading Challenge
Discover something new this August with the Genre Challenge, 2026 Summer Learning Challenge, and Back to School Reading Challenge!
Genre Challenge – August 1st – 31st
Challenge yourself to read beyond what you can imagine! Stretch your reading skills and explore new genres, or specific types of books. Expanding what you read can strengthen your reading comprehension and spark your imagination! Read new books and complete activities to earn badges.
How It Works
Participating is easy and you can complete all challenges at the same time. Simply:
- Read 3 books from genres you do not normally read during the month of August
- Track your reading in Beanstack
- Once you finish, visit any CCPL branch to pick up your special genre tag prize*
Back to School Reading Challenge – August 15th – September 15th
Whether you’re heading back to school or cheering on a student, this reading challenge is for all ages! Set your reading goals, track your minutes, earn badges, and see how much you can read this school year.
How It Works
Participating is easy and you can complete all challenges at the same time. Simply:
- Read and log 300 minutes from August 15th to September 15th
- Track your reading in Beanstack
- Once you finish, visit any CCPL branch to pick up your special book review bookmark prize*
2026 Summer Learning Challenge – Ends August 8th
Dig into discovery with the Charles County Public Library’s 2026 Summer Learning Challenge: Can You Dig It? Explore the exciting worlds of archaeology and paleontology through books, hands-on activities, and interactive programs all summer long! Unearth new adventures, uncover fascinating facts, and earn tickets for chances to win amazing prizes.
How to Play
Earn tickets for each Bingo square you complete by:
- Logging books you read
- Completing Can You Dig It?-themed activities on your Bingo board
Ticket Rewards
- Earn 1 ticket for every square you complete
- Earn 5 bonus tickets for completing your first row of Bingo
- Earn 10 additional bonus tickets for filling the entire board
Participants can earn up to 40 total tickets throughout the summer!
Choose Your Prizes
Use your tickets to enter drawings for the prizes YOU want most! Put all your tickets toward one big prize or spread them across multiple prize drawings for more chances to win. Make sure you submit your tickets for the prize drawings you want by August 8th! Prize drawings will take place on August 10th, winners will be notified by August 14th!
Good news: Any reading you log during the month of August counts toward all challenges you are registered for that are active, so you can earn rewards for each while enjoying the same great books.
Turn the page on a new reading adventure this August! From discovering new genres to wrapping up summer reading and getting ready for the school year, there’s a challenge for every reader. Visit Beanstack to get started!
* While supplies last