Youth Program
Summer Reading Challenge Instructions
- Starting June 1, pick up a printed reading log on Level Two of the library.
- Return completed reading logs to Level Two staff any time until August 31.
- Complete half the reading log (25 circles of half an hour reading each) and visit Level Two to claim the first prize – a free book!
Kids who complete half or more of their reading logs on or before July 23rd can enter into a drawing for free rides at the Fair! Kids have a chance to win 1 of 50 ride booklets containing 6 ride vouchers or 1 of 10 “GoldenTicket” ride wristband coupons for unlimited rides for the whole week of the Fair! Bring your reading log with at least half of your summer reading completed to the Level Two library staff on or before July 23rd to get your name in the drawing. Winners are eligible for one of these prizes only and will be notified on July 24th. Winners will have until July 31st to pick up their tickets or wristband, otherwise another name will be drawn.
- Return the completed log (50 circles of half an hour reading each) to Level Two on or before August 31 to receive a $5 Good Food Store gift card.
Don’t forget to check out our events below, happening all summer long! We’ll have free books as giveaways at every youth program. Click here for info about Teen & Adult summer programs.
June
UNEARTH A STORY: KICK OFF SUMMER LEARNING!
It’s time for the 2026 Summer Learning and Reading Challenge! “Unearth a Story” all summer long at the Missoula Public Library. Come pick up your reading logs and swag bags on the 4th floor. There will be dino-themed treats and activities, as well as FREE BOOKS!
ALTERED BOOKS & GIVEAWAY
Show off your creativity (and sustainability!) by turning discarded books into art. All ages welcome. Materials and enthusiastic support provided. Free book giveaway!
ADOPT-A-DINO WEEK
It’s Adopt-a-Dino week at the library! Kids can search Level Two for their very own dinosaur to take home. Each dino comes with a fact sheet and adoption certificate. Share photos of your new dino’s adventures with the library by tagging us on social media!
DINO STORY TIME & PASTA PALEONTOLOGY
Unearth a Good Book at this special dino-themed Story Time! Enjoy stories, songs, and pasta-based paleontology!
LEGO DINOSAURS & TRIVIA
Join us for a special Lego Club! We’ll be building dinosaurs from Legos and testing our dinosaur knowledge.
July
MEET BUDDY THE DINOSAUR!
All aboard for dino-sized fun! Join Montana PBS at the Missoula Public Library on Friday, July 10, from 2–4 PM for a special visit from Buddy the Dinosaur from Dinosaur Train on PBS KIDS! Kids can meet Buddy, grab a free coloring book, and enjoy exciting dinosaur-themed activities. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s the perfect adventure for your little explorers!
ALTERED BOOKS & GIVEAWAY
Show off your creativity (and sustainability!) by turning discarded books into art. All ages welcome. Materials and enthusiastic support provided. Free book giveaway!
FOSSIL FUN WITH PALEONTOLOGIST KALLIE MOORE
Join University of Montana Paleontologist Kallie Moore (aka the “Fossil Librarian”) as she teaches us all about fossils! Free copies of her book Tales of the Prehistoric World will be available for kids to take home and enjoy.
RAPTORS OF THE ROCKIES
Come learn about dinosaur descendants, the Raptors of the Rockies! Author and educator Kate Davis will teach us all about these amazing birds and demonstrate what they can do.
MUSEUM OF THE ROCKIES PRESENTS: READING WITH A RAPTOR
Join us for a prehistoric adventure at our Preschool Storytime with Gobi the Velociraptor! Little ones will love meeting Gobi, our scientifically accurate Velociraptor puppet, who not only listens to the story but interacts with it, bringing the tale to life in a way that’s fun and engaging. As we read, Gobi will help tell the story, and kids will learn all about this fascinating dinosaur, from how he moved to the sounds he might have made! Through interactive storytelling, children will get to know Gobi as a true prehistoric friend. It’s a hands-on way to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of dinosaurs. Suggested ages: PreK–2nd grade
MUSEUM OF THE ROCKIES PRESENTS: MONTANA DINOSAURS 101
Montana ranks among the top states in the nation for dinosaur discoveries, and the Museum of the Rockies is a repository for some of the most important fossils ever found—including Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. Children will explore dinosaurs from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, learn where these fossils have been discovered across the western United States, and investigate the geologic processes that make this region such an exceptional place for fossil preservation. Suggested ages: 2nd grade and up
August
END OF SUMMER CELEBRATION
Celebrate reading and learning all summer with a party! Come grab an ice cream sandwich or popsicle, turn in your reading logs, and do some activities with the library and the Montana Natural History Center!
