Houston Library

Books Alive! Children’s Festival:

Mark your calendar for the Houston Public Library’s 10th annual Books Alive! Children’s Festival.

Families are invited to enjoy a day of free activities including author presentations, performances, interactive demonstrations, prizes, games, and more. All activities are free!

Saturday, May 18, 2019 | 10 AM – 3 PM
Central Library | Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza 500 McKinney St., 77002

Enter And Win The Mac Attack! Art Contest:

Not only can you enjoy the free event, but kids are encouraged to participate in an art contest before the big Children’s Book Celebration!

Each contest winner and one adult guest will be treated to a delicious meal and an autographed copy of Mac Barnett’s The Terrible Two’s Last Laugh!

Contest is open to children in grades K – 6.

Submission Guidelines:

• Cut and attach the entry form to back of artwork
• Submit entries, in person, to your local HPL location OR by mail to: Houston Public Library, Attn: Youth Services, 500 McKinney St., Houston, TX 77002

Fine Print:

• You may use any art medium you like.
• Traced or copied artwork or images will not be accepted; please do not use copyrighted images.
• One person per entry.
• One entry per person.
• If you would like your artwork returned, all artwork must be claimed by Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the Central Library, 4th floor Kids Room.
• Submission deadline: May 1, 2019
• Winners will be notified by May 10, 2019

Get the details HERE!

We’ve always loved the Houston Public Library… but the  FLIPKits are our very favorite thing.

FLIP stands for Family Literacy Involvement Program, is a learning program designed for kids ages 0-8, by professionals at the Children’s Museum of Houston, to develop reading and comprehension skills.   At all Houston Public Library location, you can find the kits to take home with you… and you get Children’s Museum tickets just for doing this!

Each one comes in a yellow mesh bag with a tag saying the name of the story, the language and the appropriate age. Inside is a kit with a book, activity or craft, instructions and a parent survey.

There are 201 different FLIP kits available at 35 libraries that cover math, science and the arts. You can see them all HERE.

What’s even better than getting to check out the FLIPKits is getting rewarded for doing so!  Each kit comes with a paper survey.  Fill it out while your kids do the craft, turn it in when you return your backpack, and get a family pass to the Houston Children’s Museum!

So the library gives you everything you need to read and play with your kids… and then sends you to the museum!

Any resident with a valid Houston Public Library card can check out as many kits as they would like, for 3 weeks.  (And even those outside city limits can get a library card!)  They are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Learn more in the video HERE!

The Houston Public Library’s John P. McGovern Summer Reading Program is open for registration NOW!  From June 1 through August 1, 2018, you can read, record your hours, earn rewards… and it’s all FREE.

And anything counts… books, comics, audio books, reading with your kids!  All you need to do is:

1. Visit houstonlibrary.org/summer
2. Click the registration button and follow the prompts.
3. Log in anytime to track your reading goals and activity participation.
4. Unlock badges by logging 20 minutes a day and attending library programs!
5.  Visit your local Houston Public Library location, after June 1, to pick up your prizes.

AND this year there will also be drawings:

1.  Kids (ages 5-12) that log at least 1 day will be entered into a weekly drawing for a Kids Edition Amazon Kindle Fire. 1 winner per week.
2.  Teens (ages 13-18) that log 30 days will be entered into a drawing for a pair of Skullcandy wireless headphones. 1 winner per location. Drawing will take place August 2, 2018.

AND the prizes you earn by reading are:

Level	Babies, Toddlers & Pre-K (0-4)	Children 5-12	Teens 13-18
Registration	Book	Book, lanyard and button	Book, lanyard and button
10 Days Read	Book & Finger Puppets	Book & Button	Book & Button
20 Days Read	Book & Bubbles	Book & Button	Book & Button
30 Days Read	Book & Rubber Duck	Book & Button	Book & Button
5 Programs Attended		Button	Button

 

 

 

 

 

Register and get ready to earn prizes HERE!

The Houston Public Library’s Summer Reading Program is open NOW!  From now through August 1, 2017, you register, read, record your hours, earn rewards… and it’s all FREE.

And the rewards are AMAZING! Astro Tickets, Train Tickets, Meal Passes and more!  Plus, anyone with a Texas drivers license can have a Houston Public Library MY Link card as well as participate in the program!

All you need to do is:
1. General Registration begins June 1, 2017.  Just go HERE.
2. Log in anytime to track the minutes and titles you’ve read.
3. Unlock badges by logging minutes and attend attending programs – don’t forget to stay for the secret code!
4. Some activities require registration; check the online calendar.

 

So what are the rewards??

Summer Reading Program Prizes (while supplies last):

Level	Babies, Toddlers & Pre-K (0-4)	Children 5-10	Teens 11-18
May Early School Registration (only for students who register at school)		Alley Theatre tickets, first 250 to sign up (no children under 6)	Alley Theatre tickets, first 250 to sign up (no children under 6)
Registration	Free Book	Free Book	Free Book
5 Books/Hours Read		Sunglasses & certificate	Sunglasses & certificate
10 Books/Hours Read	Finger Puppets	Chipotle meal	Chipotle meal
20 Books/Hours Read		Rice University Athletics ticket	Rice University Athletics ticket
30 Books/Hours Read	Mario Brothers bibs, baby teethers (babies 0-2)Mario Brothers meal set (toddlers 3-4)	Astros ticketsPixelated bag	Astros tickets Pixelated bag
Top Readers (2 per location)		Retro game gift set (Pac-Man connect, Pattern Play 3D)	Retro game gift set (Pac-Man connect, sticky note art)
5 Programs Attended	Children’s Museum Family Pass	Children’s Museum Family Pass	Alley Theatre tickets
Family Completion	Hermann Park Train & pedal boatsRaising Cane’s meal	Hermann Park Train & pedal boatsRaising Cane’s meal	Hermann Park Train & pedal boatsRaising Cane’s meal

Also,families (1 adult + 1 child) who complete the Summer Reading Program and write reviews for Summer Reading for Grown-Ups will be entered into a drawing to win a Family Prize Pack.

So go HERE and get to reading!!

One of my favorite things about summer is the Houston Public Library’s Summer Reading Program!  From now through August 1, 2017, you register, read, record your hours, earn rewards… and it’s all FREE.

And the rewards are AMAZING! Astro Tickets, Train Tickets, Meal Passes and more!  Plus, anyone with a Texas drivers license can have a Houston Public Library MY Link card as well as participate in the program!

All you need to do is:
1. General Registration begins June 1, 2017.  Just go HERE.
2. Log in anytime to track the minutes and titles you’ve read.
3. Unlock badges by logging minutes and attend attending programs – don’t forget to stay for the secret code!
4. Some activities require registration; check the online calendar.

 

So what are the rewards??

Summer Reading Program Prizes (while supplies last):

Level	Babies, Toddlers & Pre-K (0-4)	Children 5-10	Teens 11-18
May Early School Registration (only for students who register at school)		Alley Theatre tickets, first 250 to sign up (no children under 6)	Alley Theatre tickets, first 250 to sign up (no children under 6)
Registration	Free Book	Free Book	Free Book
5 Books/Hours Read		Sunglasses & certificate	Sunglasses & certificate
10 Books/Hours Read	Finger Puppets	Chipotle meal	Chipotle meal
20 Books/Hours Read		Rice University Athletics ticket	Rice University Athletics ticket
30 Books/Hours Read	Mario Brothers bibs, baby teethers (babies 0-2)Mario Brothers meal set (toddlers 3-4)	Astros ticketsPixelated bag	Astros tickets Pixelated bag
Top Readers (2 per location)		Retro game gift set (Pac-Man connect, Pattern Play 3D)	Retro game gift set (Pac-Man connect, sticky note art)
5 Programs Attended	Children’s Museum Family Pass	Children’s Museum Family Pass	Alley Theatre tickets
Family Completion	Hermann Park Train & pedal boatsRaising Cane’s meal	Hermann Park Train & pedal boatsRaising Cane’s meal	Hermann Park Train & pedal boatsRaising Cane’s meal

Also,families (1 adult + 1 child) who complete the Summer Reading Program and write reviews for Summer Reading for Grown-Ups will be entered into a drawing to win a Family Prize Pack.

So go HERE and get to reading!!

One of my favorite things about summer is the Houston Public Library’s Summer Reading Program!  From June 1, 2017 through August 1, 2017, you register, read, record your hours, earn rewards… and it’s all FREE.

And the rewards are AMAZING! Astro Tickets, Train Tickets, Meal Passes and more!  Plus, anyone with a Texas drivers license can have a Houston Public Library MY Link card as well as participate in the program!

All you need to do is:
1. General Registration begins June 1, 2017.  Just go HERE (starting June 1).
2. Log in anytime to track the minutes and titles you’ve read.
3. Unlock badges by logging minutes and attend attending programs – don’t forget to stay for the secret code!
4. Some activities require registration; check the online calendar.

 

So what are the rewards??

Summer Reading Program Prizes (while supplies last):

Level	Babies, Toddlers & Pre-K (0-4)	Children 5-10	Teens 11-18
May Early School Registration (only for students who register at school)		Alley Theatre tickets, first 250 to sign up (no children under 6)	Alley Theatre tickets, first 250 to sign up (no children under 6)
Registration	Free Book	Free Book	Free Book
5 Books/Hours Read		Sunglasses & certificate	Sunglasses & certificate
10 Books/Hours Read	Finger Puppets	Chipotle meal	Chipotle meal
20 Books/Hours Read		Rice University Athletics ticket	Rice University Athletics ticket
30 Books/Hours Read	Mario Brothers bibs, baby teethers (babies 0-2)Mario Brothers meal set (toddlers 3-4)	Astros tickets Pixelated bag	Astros tickets Pixelated bag
Top Readers (2 per location)		Retro game gift set (Pac-Man connect, Pattern Play 3D)	Retro game gift set (Pac-Man connect, sticky note art)
5 Programs Attended	Children’s Museum Family Pass	Children’s Museum Family Pass	Alley Theatre tickets
Family Completion	Hermann Park Train & pedal boats Raising Cane’s meal	Hermann Park Train & pedal boats Raising Cane’s meal	Hermann Park Train & pedal boats Raising Cane’s meal

Also,families (1 adult + 1 child) who complete the Summer Reading Program and write reviews for Summer Reading for Grown-Ups will be entered into a drawing to win a Family Prize Pack.

So go HERE and get to reading!!

Read and get rewarded!  At several spots around town, you can earn prizes, just for picking up a book!

Below is a preview of what to expect around Houston… and we’ll update the details as they are posted.  If you know of more reading programs, let us know!

 

1.  Houston Public Library:

The prizes are still need to be listed for this year… but reading books can usually get your kids restaurant coupons, a free book and museum tickets.  For 2016, the program will open to the public on June 1 (or you can sign up onsite on May 14 at the Books Alive Festival).

Note that there will NOT be Circus tickets this year… so look for your discount coupons from Chick Fil A instead.

Read or listen to 30 books (or for 30 hours) this summer, and get all these rewards.

All you need to do is:

1. Start to read and write down the titles.
2. Once the HPL website is ready, sign up HERE.
3.  Read more.
4.  Record your hours or books.
5.  Get rewarded!!

 

2. Houston Public Library:

We looking HERE for the summer program updates.

 

3. Barnes and Noble:

Earn a free book!

1. Read.
2. Fill out THIS form.
3. Bring the completed Reading Journal to your local B&N store.
4. Choose a FREE BOOK.

 

4. Brazos Bookstore:

Watch HERE for updates for their summer reading program!

Camp STREAM is the Houston Public Library’s FREE week-long summer program that teaches STREAM topics (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Math) each day of the week.

Topics include:

• Renewable Energy
• Creative Writing
• LEGO Robotics
• Video Making
• Computer Programming
• Video Game Design
• Theatre Play

For Summer 2015, there are 4 locations, for K-12:

Henington-Alief Regional Library: August 3 – August 7
Collier Regional Library: August 3 – August 7
Scenic Woods Regional Library: August 10 – August 14
Park Place Regional Library: August 17 – August 21

To learn more and to register, go HERE.