Dig into a Dino-Mite Summer at the Bowling Green Public Library!

Ready for a summer full of prehistoric fun? This July, the Bowling Green Public Library invites young explorers and their families to travel back in time and learn about dinosaurs, archaeology, and paleontology. Join our "Unearth a Story" Summer Reading Program and dive into amazing books, discover prehistoric giants, and earn fantastic rewards.

Whether your child is learning to read or already a bookworm, our summer program is sure to keep minds active and imaginations soaring during the summer break.

The "Unearth a Story" Reading Program

Dates: July 1 - August 15

Age Range: All ages are invited to participate!

We have made participation as simple as possible with no online sign-ups or pre-registration required! Just follow these easy steps to join the expedition:

1. Pick up your Reading Log: Stop by the library front desk starting Wednesday, July 1 to collect your official dinosaur tracker log.
2. Track your reading at home: Fill in the title, author, date the book was read, and have a guardian or trusted adult initial the entry.
3. Unearth awesome prizes: Bring the log back to the library to claim a reward for every 5 books read! You can keep reading and earning all summer long until the program concludes on August 15.

Dino-Mite Wednesdays

Dates: July 8, 15, 22, and 29

Age Range: 3-8

Break up the mid-week slump with our special Wednesday activity days! Every week, we will host age-specific sessions featuring engaging read-aloud stories followed by hands-on activities, creative crafts, or interactive games. Plus, attendees get to snag cute, wearable felt dinosaur masks during game times while supplies last!

Note on Week 4 (July 29): We are combining our time slots into a single session from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM for a special prehistoric movie celebration!

Please note our staggered times so your children get the most out of their age group:

Fossil Finders (Ages 3-5)

• Time: 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
• What to expect: Short, interactive picture books, simple crafts, and movement games perfect for early learners. 

Expedition Experts (Ages 6-8)

• Time: 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
• What to expect: Engaging stories, fun crafts, and active team challenges aimed at readers with a bit of experience under their belts. 

"Unearth a Story" Poster Coloring Challenge

Dates: Pick up any time between now and the end of July

Age Range: Open to all ages!

Want to showcase your prehistoric creativity and help us decorate? Grab an official "Unearth a Story" poster from the front desk and color it in. Return your finished masterpiece to the library by July 31. Don't forget to include your name and a contact number or email on the back.

We will post all the entries on our Facebook page, where the community can vote for their favorites! Stay tuned to see our local artists bring these dinosaurs to life. Winners will get to choose a free book to take home!

Dig Up Epic Rewards!

Dates: July 1 - August 15

Age Range: Open to all ages!

Make sure to track your reading all summer long. Bring your log to the front desk to claim your individual milestone reward for every five books you finish. 

• 5 Books: An "I Love to Read" silicone wristband
• 10 Books: A collectible reading brag tag
• 15 Books: A dinosaur activity coloring book
• 20 Books: A dinosaur book lover pen and bookmark set
• 25 Books: A shiny acrylic Super Star award tag with a necklace chain
• 30 Books (Grand Prize Milestone): Choose one premium discovery prize from our treasure collection, including clay dinosaur egg excavation dig kits, water-color coloring books, dinosaur eggs that actually hatch in water, or candy dinosaur bracelets!

Read past 30 books? Keep the expedition going! Once you hit 35 books, your log loops right back around to the 5-book mark so you can keep earning extra wristbands, tags, and pens all summer long. (Note: Prize items are available while supplies last. Don't forget, anyone can stop by the front desk anytime just to grab a waterproof dinosaur sticker for your water bottle or notebook!)