CINCINNATI— Kids and teens are encouraged to transform their local library into their favorite campsite by joining the Summer Reading program - Camp Read at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL). This exciting event runs from Saturday, May 30, to Friday, July 31.
CHPL is committed to early literacy across Cincinnati & Hamilton County. The 2025 Early Literacy Component for Cincinnati Public Schools (the largest school system in Cincinnati and Hamilton County) shows a 64.5% effectiveness in K-3 reading support, earning a two-star rating out of five and indicating a need for improvement to meet state standards (Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, 2026). CHPL is prioritizing the science of reading by offering kids and teens various opportunities to enhance their reading abilities. This includes connecting them with Library resources, providing a free book to support their reading at home, and fostering creativity, discovery, and exploration. Ultimately, the goal is to make reading enjoyable while helping to develop reading skills.
Discover more about the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge on the CHPL website at CHPL.org/summer.
How the program works
Signing up
Kids and teens receive these items when they join:
- Summer Reading challenge sheet
- A book of their choice to keep
- Cincinnati Reds voucher for two view-level tickets (while supplies last)
- Their first Camp Badge
The Challenge
Kids 25-Day Challenge | Ages 12 and Under
- Kids can read for 20 minutes or participate in a fun activity. They can color the tracker each day they read or engage in an activity, filling in one section per day for 25 days.
Teen 15-Day Challenge | Ages 13 to18
- Teens can select an activity and creatively complete one section each day for 15 days.
Kids and Teens can return their completed tracker to any Library location by July 31 to earn a prize.
Prizes
After completing the challenge, kids can receive the following prizes:
- Drawstring bag
- Literary trading cards
- Wrist disc flyer
- Pop-it ball
- Doodle journal
Bonus Challenge: Camp Badges
Kids looking for an additional challenge can collect badges, including:
- Camp Read – Sign up for Summer Reading!
- Bookworm – Read for a total of 1 hour.
- Adventurer – Attend a Library program.
- Campfire Stories – Tell a friend your favorite story.
- Creature Researcher – Learn about a new creature by exploring the outdoors or reading a book.
- Artist – Draw your favorite Library memory and show it off to Library staff.
- Historian – Learn about an influential figure of American history who inspires you.
- Helper – Help a friend, family member, or Library staff complete a task.
Summer Reading Kick Off Events
Kids and teens can sign up at any of the 41 Library locations beginning on Saturday, May 30! Check out the locations at chpl.org/events, including the:
Gold Star Program
Gold Star Chili is partnering with the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library to present one Gold Star Program at each Library location. Kids can enjoy extra reading fun with giveaways from Gold Star, while supplies last.
Summer Meals and Snacks for Kids and Teens
Select locations will also serve free summer meals Monday through Friday at various times. Visit chpl.org/meals for dates, locations and more.
For media inquiries, please get in touch with Angela Hursh at 513-369-6074 or via email at Angela.Hursh@chpl.org.