Summer Reading Experience 2026:
Unearth A Story!
May 29 - July 31, 2026
Reading Challenge Details
This year's theme, Unearth A Story, invites readers to dig into a good book, uncover hidden histories, or explore the past, underscoring the joy of discovery that reading brings. This program is open to all ages.
How it Works
Read: Set a goal by choosing how many minutes you'll read each day. Track your progress by marking a dinosaur scale on your reading log for every day you meet your goal.
Completion: After 30 days of reading, turn in your log to receive a prize (while supplies last)!
Optional More Reading: Complete 50 days of reading to earn a raffle entry. Twenty five (25) raffle winners will be invited to The Magic Safe Workshop on Sunday, August 9 @ 2:15pm with John O'Bryant!
Team Challenge: Readers are sorted into Dino teams. Five teams are labelled on the bottom right of the reading log. The team with the most completed logs at the end of the Summer Reading Challenge (July 31) will win a Jurassic Pizza Party at the library on Saturday, August 8 @ 12 - 1pm. We'll share the winning team on social media and notify team members, so keep an eye out!
Let’s Get Started!
- Register for the Summer Reading Experience (Registration is closed)
- Print your Experience Log (choose your Dino Team by selecting a button below) or grab one at the library (Available May 29)
Warm up this winter with the Schertz Public Library’s annual Winter Reading Challenge! Set your own daily reading goal, track your progress, and earn a fun prize when you complete the challenge. This year’s cozy theme is all about curling up with great stories and celebrating reading together as a community.
Register starting December 13th, and join us for Snakes & Snowflakes, our kick-off event at the library! Get up close and personal with 10 snakes from Austin Reptile Shows, while enjoying holiday treats.
2026 WINTER READING CHALLENGE: SSSNUGGLE UP WITH A GOOD BOOK
Program Dates: Saturday, December 13, 2025 – Saturday, January 31, 2026
Registration Dates: Saturday, December 13, 2025 – Monday, January 12, 2026
How It Works
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Register in-person or use our online form. The last day to register is Monday, January 12, 2026.
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Print or pick up your reading log at the Library once you’ve registered.
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Set your personal daily reading goal – this can be your choice of:
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Number of minutes
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Number of pages
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Number of books or chapters
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Reading with family or a friend
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Track your progress: Each time you meet your daily goal, color or mark one image on your reading log.
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Once you’ve completed your goal 20 times, turn in your reading log to the Library or email it to librarian@schertz.com.The last day to submit your completed reading log is Saturday, January 31, 2026.
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Collect your prize! Each participant who completes the challenge will receive a Mini Paint-by-Number Kit (while supplies last).
The Schertz Public Library & the Schertz-Cibolo-Selma Lions Club have partnered to offer an early literacy initiative called 1,000 Books before Kindergarten. This project encourages parents to read aloud at least 1,000 books with their children before they enter school.
How This Program Works
- Enroll your child in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program and receive a tote bag and the bookmark to track your first 100 books.
- After the first 100 books read, take your bookmark to the Children’s Information Desk to receive a book as a reward.
- For every 100 books read together, your child will earn a sticker.
- After 500 books, they’ll earn another book to add to their collection.
- Once they complete the full 1,000-book challenge, they’ll receive one final book to celebrate their achievement!
You may be asking yourself, “How will I read 1,000 books to my child?” One thousand is a big number; however, when you start breaking that number down over five years, or even one year, the task isn’t that overwhelming. If you would take the full five years to complete this program, you could read one book every other day and read 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. If you would break this down over one year, that would be about three books a day. This small time commitment is well worth the advantage you will be giving your child and the memories that you will form spending time with them.
Suggestions
- Have fun! Reading together should never be a chore.
- Take every chance you have to read with your children, tell and talk about stories, say nursery rhymes, and sing songs.
- Expose your children to a variety of different types of stories and vocabulary. It is completely normal and expected for children, especially very young children, to have their favorite books that they want to hear over and over again. When you have the opportunity, introduce new stories so that your child has a chance to experience and hear as many new words and concepts as possible.
- Children learn best when they are in a good mood, so read with your child when the experience will be the most pleasurable for both of you.
- Visit the library often. Discover new books and participate in storytime and other children’s programming.