Summer Reading for a Cause 2025
Get ready to take off with our reading program, running June 1 through August 1! This year’s theme, Book a Trip, invites readers of all ages to explore new worlds, enjoy fun events, earn prizes, and make a difference.
Learn how to register, join this year's challenge, log minutes and more with the Beanstack tutorial.
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How to Participate (June 1–August 1)
#1 - Create Your Account
- New Readers: We use an app called Beanstack to track reading progress and participation. Setting up an account is easy and only takes a few minutes. Watch this tutorial video for a basic rundown or contact us for help. Your Beanstack account is not connected to your library account in any way—it's only for this specific app
- Returning Readers: Sign in to Beanstack and start logging your reading! The action of logging automatically enrolls you in our program.
- Opt-in to Beanstack emails. These weekly emails are separate from the library's monthly newsletter and contain info about upcoming events and book recommendations based on your reading.
- Complete each tier to earn prizes and raffle entries. Track the time you spend reading/listening. All types of reading count–audiobooks, comics, articles, magazines, storytimes. Read or listen to whatever you like!
- If we reach our community goal of logging 25,000 hours, we will donate $2000 to Pupcycled through our Friends of the Palo Alto Library.
#3 - Prize Pickup
- After completing Tier 1, you have earned your prize! Complete the remaining tiers to earn raffle entries for our grand prize drawings.
- Prizes can be picked up at Mitchell Park or Rinconada Libraries from July 1 to August 31. Raffle prize winners will be announced on August 15. Make sure to complete and submit your reading log by this time to be eligible to win!Â
Featured Events
Children's Dance Class: "Coppélia"
What's Up Wednesday: Quilting Basics with Mik and May Gaspay
Music and Puppets with Mr. Elephant
What's Up Wednesday: Yuka Yu's DJ Workshop for Teens
Children's Dance Class: "Coppélia"
What's Up Wednesday: Quilting Basics with Mik and May Gaspay
Music and Puppets with Mr. Elephant
What's Up Wednesday: Yuka Yu's DJ Workshop for Teens
Prizes
Tier 1
If you log at least 5 hours of reading, you've earned a prize! Prizes can be picked up through August 31 at Mitchell Park, Children's or Rinconada libraries while supplies last.
Kids Prize:
Book + FOPAL, opens a new window Book Bucks + Free Scoop from The Penny Ice Creamery, opens a new window
Teen Prize:
Stickers + FOPAL, opens a new window Book Bucks + Free Scoop from The Penny Ice Creamery, opens a new window
Adult Prize:
Collectible Pin + FOPAL, opens a new window Book Bucks + Free Scoop from The Penny Ice Creamery, opens a new window
Tiers 2 & 3
Earn raffle entries for our grand prize drawing when you complete the remaining tiers. We will announce winners on August 15. Make sure to complete and submit your reading log by this time to be eligible to win!Â
Three winners will be drawn from each age group. Prizes will be randomly assigned and may look different from images shown.
Kids Raffle Prizes:
Winner 1: Four tickets to Winter Lodge, opens a new window
Winner 2: Six one-day family swim passes to the Rinconada Pool, opens a new window
Winner 3: Four tickets to the Palo Alto Children’s Theater (2025–2026 season)
Teen Raffle Prizes:
Winner 1: Two passes to Great America, opens a new window
Winner 2: $25 Ada's Cafe, opens a new window gift card + Boba Kit
Winner 3: Four free boxes at Asian Box, opens a new window
Adult Raffle Prizes:
Winner 1: Filoli, opens a new window Annual Membership
Winner 2: $100 Wildseed, opens a new window gift card
Winner 3:Â $50 Books Inc. gift card + $25 Ada's Cafe, opens a new window gift card
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About Pupcycled
Founded by high school students, Pupcycled, opens a new window turns donated clothes into dog toys to reduce waste and support shelter and rescue dogs. The library has hosted a donation drive and several sewing events at its branches to support the local Palo Alto chapter. We’re pleased to support this organization that works towards combating climate change and providing support for vulnerable pets in our communities
Sponsors
We’re especially grateful to our Friends of the Palo Alto Library for providing the funding for our program and donation to Pupcycled, opens a new window. Many thanks to all other sponsors and partners, whose gifts enhance our participants’ experiences in the summer reading program. We couldn’t provide all the fun and prizes without their generous support. Â
