The best way for children to keep their reading skills up and be ready for the next school year is to read: to read for fun and to read what they choose! Anchorage Public Library is here to encourage reading and learning with our annual summer reading and learning program, Summer Discovery.
Summer Discovery is May 16 to July 31.
Summer Discovery Log
Keep track of your reading minutes and other learning activities with our Summer Discovery log. Youth 17 and younger receive a free book of their choice when they finish their log and enter to win awesome grand prizes. Adults 18 and older can also complete a discovery log to earn a finishing prize, but there are no grand prizes for adult readers.
Logs will be available in-person at all library branch locations beginning Saturday, May 16 and online on Monday, May 18.
The Rules
- Participants must read a minimum of 7.5 hours to complete their logs but can read more if they choose.
- Books, ebooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, and library storytimes all count!
- Logs must be turned in on or before July 31 to enter the grand prize drawings.
- Logs may be completed as individuals, families, or groups.
- Participants may only complete one log and enter to win the grand prize drawings once.
- Only residents of the Municipality of Anchorage ages 17 or younger are eligible to win grand prizes.
- All prizes must be collected in-person at an APL location.
- Immediate household members of APL staff are not eligible for grand prize drawings.
The Prizes
- Preschool-aged children (ages 0-5) are eligible for:
- Yoto Mini Player with a selection of cards (one winner systemwide)
- Elementary school-aged children (grades K-5) and teens (grades 6-12, under 18) are eligible for:
- All youth (ages 0-17) are eligible for:
- four (4) admission tickets to the Alaska Zoo (one winner systemwide)
A BIG thank you to our generous prize sponsors:
Alaska Zoo
Blaine's Art
Summer Events for Kids
Elementary Events
These are weekly events, in June and July, designed for children ages 6 to 12 and their families. They will last 45 minutes to an hour.
- Z.J. Loussac Library: Tuesdays at 2:30 PM
- Gerrish (Girdwood) Library: Wednesdays at 3:30 PM
- Chugiak-Eagle River Library: Thursdays at 12:00 PM
- Mountain View Library: Fridays at 2:00 PM
- Muldoon Library: Saturdays at 11:30 AM
Full event schedule available soon!
Please note that some events will be on alternative days and times as indicated in the full event schedule.
Middle and High School Events
Full event schedule available soon!
Summer Storytime
Storytime returns at all locations on June 2, 2026!
These are weekly events designed for children ages 5 and under and their families. There will be books, songs, rhymes, dancing, and more!
Family Storytime
Loussac Library*: 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 11am**
**The 1st Saturdays will have an ASL interpreter available.
Mountain View Library: Tuesdays at 6pm
Muldoon Library: Tuesdays at 10:30am
Gerrish (Girdwood) Library: Wednesdays at 10:30am
Eagle River Commons Park (Chugiak-Eagle River): Fridays at 10:30am
Toddler Storytime
Muldoon Library: Wednesdays at 10:30am (Parachute Storytime)
Loussac Library Lawn: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11am**
**In case of inclement weather, we will move to 2nd floor Storytheater*
Preschool Storytime
Loussac Library Lawn: Tuesdays at 11am**
**In case of inclement weather, we will move to 2nd floor Storytheater*
Baby Storytime
Loussac Library*: Fridays at 11am and 1:30pm
* Indoor storytimes at Loussac require free entry tickets. Entry tickets are provided first-come, first-served starting 15 minutes before storytime.
What counts as inclement weather? Rain, the threat of rain during storytime, or wet or soggy ground; excessive wind; or temperatures 45 degrees or under, factoring in wind chill. The librarian hosting storytime will make the decision whether to move indoors approximately an hour before storytime.
Readers to the Rescue
There’s nothing like starting the new school year with fresh school supplies! Unfortunately, we know buying those supplies can be hard. At events like the Back to School Backpack Jam and the Fairview Back to School Fair, families will be able to pick up bags packed with brand-new, free school gear—but they need your help!
After participants complete their Summer Discovery logs, they can keep track of their additional summer reading minutes for Readers to the Rescue. If we reach our goal of 250,000 extra minutes, the Friends of the Library will donate $2,500 worth of supplies to local organizations hosting back to school supply fairs.
This year's Readers to the Rescue log is available at library locations and online beginning Monday, May 18.
Summer Reading Books
Need some good books?
- Head over to our Kids Books recommendations!
- You can find a list of Battle of the Books (to get in print or ebook).
- These are some summer reading book suggestions by grade.
- Interested in eBooks and eAudiobooks? Learn more here!