You have summer reading assignments for school. Why not have fun doing them? Or maybe you just want to avoid summer slide; you know that part where you loose up to 1 month of learning from last year. Do you really want to start this school year 1 month dumber than you left it last year? Reading engages your brain so all that stuff you worked hard to learn doesn’t slide out and we’ve made reading fun!
The teen summer adventures is for teens in grade 5 – 12 or recent graduates. Younger siblings can join the fun on our kids pages and parents are invited to join the adult program. Have fun!
How do I grab summer by the tale?
Sign-up either entirely in person or entirely on-line, not both. Sign-up begins June 1st and continues through August 9th. Logging begins June 28th and continues through August 13th.
To sign-up in person, visit the Young Adult (YA) reference desk at Newport Public Library (NPL) for a paper tracker and teen made button from our button box. They have great imaginations. You will be participating in hard copy this year.
OR
Sign-up on-line via Beanstack, we can help in person or via phone if you need us or you can use this instructional PDF. You will be logging actions and “turning in” forms on-line, via Beanstack, this year. You will get an e-badge for registering, but are still welcome to raid our registration button collection in person if you wish.
Complete any of the 10 “for points actions”. Log them on your grid or on-line . Actions can be completed as many times as you wish. Each action earns you 1 point. “For points actions” include:
- Read a book or magazine for 20 minutes.
- Read a book or magazine to someone else for 20 minutes.
- Review a book you’ve read: e-review or print PDF to turn into the YA reference desk, or if no one is there, the Children’s reference desk.
- Read a RITBA book. Come see our display in YA or check out this list.
- Attend a library program. All in person programs will take place in the park, weather permitting, or our library program room. See “Events” for our schedule.
- Complete a “Grab and Go” project; also listed under “Events”.
- Download a book from E-zone or Hoopla. Call or visit a librarian for assistance if you need it.
- Listen to an audiobook for 20 minutes.
Audiobooks are available to download from E-zone or in the library on CD or playaway. - Do an activity related to a book you’re reading (or just finished) and write about the experience. For example, if you are reading Aurora Rising, go outside at night and find as many constellations as you can: e-submission or print PDF to turn into the YA reference desk, or if no one is there, the Children’s reference desk.
- Review your favorite, or least favorite, App: e-review or print PDF to turn into the YA reference desk, or if no one is there, the Children’s reference desk.
The beauty in this Challenge is that you can get multiple points for a single Activity. For example, if you read a book from the RITBA list to your dog for 20 minutes, that’s 2 actions. You get 2 points: 1 for reading aloud to someone else and 1 for for reading a RITBA book. Go you!
After 10 points you finish 1 level and earn some great prizes from your friendly YA librarians.
Prizes can be picked up at your convenience, but before September 3, at the YA reference desk. If no one is in YA, the Children’s reference desk will be able to help you. Teens participating on-line will earn e-badges and are invited to pick up level prizes if they wish to.
- 10 points – free book of your choosing
- 20 points – Ice Cream coupons
- 30 points – Ryan’s Family Amusement game cards
- 40 points – Earbuds
- 50 points – Newport Gulls swag – we have t-shirts and baseball caps for you to choose from.
What Can I Read?
Anything at your reading level!
Ms. Becky or Ms. Christina are happy to help you determine your “just right reading level” and find books for you to enjoy if you’re feeling a bit lost. Just visit us at the YA desk, give us a call or fill out this personalized reading list request. If you’d rather find books yourself, we can give you tips and tricks for that too!
- Print and electronic books – 3 magazines can be used in place of 1 book
- Graphic Novels
- Unabridged Audiobooks – available in playaway, CD and electronic formats at your library
- All summer long, E-zone, our e-book and audiobook provider, offers 2 free audiobooks each week for you to download and OWN; now through August 4th
- Sorry, but movies based on books do not count.
They’re still fun to watch though 🙂
Stuff to Do
Monday, June 28th, at 4pm – Bucket Drumming with the Rhythm Room
Rick Morin and the Rhythm Room staff will teach you how to make music with your body (hands, feet, etc) and bucket drums. No experience needed, just come ready to get your groove on!
Join us in Aquidneck Park on the North side of the building.
Registration requested and will remain open until the event begins.
Walk-ins will be accommodated if possible, but registered participants will be given priority.
Thursday, July 1st – Zipper Pouches
Grab and Go Yo!
Make a super cute zipper pouch that you can use to carry your pencils, change or whatever you’d like!
We have 20 kits with supplies and instructions available for interested teens.
Kits can be picked in the YA department at Newport Public Library.
Monday, July 5th – Library Closed for Independence Day holiday
Tuesday, July 6th at 4pm – Digital Scavenger Hunt
Download this scavenger hunt from our webpage or event registration post beginning, Saturday, July 3 for a walk about Newport. At 4pm, meet Ms. Becky in Aquidneck Park on the North side of the building for water, snacks and prizes.
Registration requested per COVID regulations. Registration will remain open until the event begins. Walk-ins will be accommodated if possible, but registered participants will be given priority.
Thursday, July 8th – Wish Bottles
A one-of-a-kind string of wish bottles that you can hang in you room, locker, or where ever you want.
We have 20 kits with supplies and instructions available for interested teens.
Kits can be picked in the YA department at Newport Public Library.
Monday, July 12th at 4pm – High Flying Adventures with MobileQuest
Under the direction of MobileQuest instructors teens will take to the skies competing in 2 high flying adventures, including creating a gas powered flying animal.
Join us in Aquidneck Park on the North side of the building.
Registration Requested and will remain open until the event begins. Walk-ins will be accommodated if possible, but registered participants will be given priority.
Thursday, July 15th – Nautical Bracelets
Show off your sailor skills with this dazzling piece of handmade jewelry! Features a 25mm anchor charm as the fastener. Includes glass beads, metal beads and metal charms 12mm – 25mm. 24″ polyester cord.
We have 20 kits with supplies and instructions available for interested teens.
Kits can be picked in the YA department at Newport Public Library.
Monday, July 19th at 4pm – Life Size Yard Games
Join Ms. Becky for an afternoon of fun in the shade. She’ll have our collection of oversized games (and rubber gloves) on the lawn in Aquidneck Park, North of the Library for you and your friends to test your skills. Competition is for bragging rights only, but there will be water and snacks.
Registration requested per COVID regulations. Registration will remain open until the event begins. Walk-ins will be accommodated if possible, but registered participants will be given priority.
Thursday, July 22 – Embellished Burlap Bags
Summer job making you flush with cash? Show your hard earned Benjamins some love with a personalized money carrier.
Kits can be picked in the YA department at Newport Public Library.
Monday, July 26 at 4pm – Frozen T-shirt Races (and trivia)
Disney taught us to “Let it Go” but did you ever think how hard it would be to get dressed in that beautiful ice castle? Well, you are about to find out! We will have frozen t-shirt (literally frozen t-shirts) races. All you have to do is get yours on before the competition. Once all of the t-shirts have been defrosted, test your knowledge with some frozen trivia in the shade, or sun.
Meet Ms. Becky in Aquidneck Park on the North side of the building.
Registration requested per COVID regulations. Registration will remain open until the event begins. Walkin-ins will be accommodated if possible, but registered participants will be given priority.
Thursday, July 29th – DIY Bird Houses
Assemble and paint your own bird houses. Your feathered friends will love you for it.
Kits can be picked in the YA department at Newport Public Library.
Monday, August 2nd at 4pm – Newport Martial Arts demonstration and Workshop – pending
Join us in Aquidneck Park on the North side of the building.
Registration requested per COVID regulations. Registration will remain open until the event begins.
Walkin-ins will be accommodated if possible, but registered participants will be given priority.
Thursday, August 5th – Animal Print decor
Storage tins, light switches and animal print paper will be supplied so you can create your own animal print decorations for your bedroom or private “stuff”. Grab and go bags will include every thing you need.
Kits can be picked in the YA department at Newport Public Library.
Monday, August 9th
The library will be closed for Victory Day, but E-Zone and Hoopla are always open. Enjoy the beach!
Tuesday, August 10th at 4pm – Tie Dye T-Shirts
Meet Ms. Becky in Aquidneck Park on the North side of the building where she’ll have shirts, rubber bands and dye for you to experiment and create.
Registration requested per COVID regulations. Registration will remain open until the event begins. Walk-ins will be accommodated if possible, but registered participants will be given priority.
Thursday, August 12th – Desk Organizers
Take organization to a new level. Make the most of your limited desk space with this unique DIY organizer.
Kits can be picked in the YA department at Newport Public Library.
Movies and Shows to Watch
Click each movie or show title to see the trailer. All titles can be borrowed from Newport Public Library.
| Beauty and the Beast | Grim (TV Series) | The Hunters |
| Snow White and the Huntsman | Into the Woods | Once Upon a Time (TV Series) |
| The Princess Bride | Shrek |
The (not so) Fine Print
The statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading program is supported by the RI Office of Library and Information Services, with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Local support is provided by the Newport Public Library, the Friends of the Newport Library and RI Children and Young Adult Librarians.
We are especially grateful to the many generous, local sponsors supporting our program with prize donations this year!