Kids' Summer Reading Programs 2025

Welcome to Destination: Florida! Kids' Summer Reading Program. 
Celebrate summer the Florida way, with sunshine, creativity, and endless fun! 

Keep reading through the summer to collect stickers and prizes. Come for exciting in-person events every week. 

Here’s what’s happening:  

• Summer Reading Kick-Off Parties

  Join us for fun and games as we kick-off our Summer Reading Programs! 

  Come and pick up your reading logs and get the inside scoop on all the summer activities we have planned for adults and kids.

  Our Summer Reading kick-off parties are for all ages, no registration required. 

  

   

  Lakeland Public Library
  Summer Kick-Off with JiggleMan
  Get ready to jiggle and giggle and to be amazed by the one and only JiggleMan!  Enjoy wacky acrobatics, balls of all sizes, giant suits, and leaf blowers, plus plenty of laughter and audience participation!

  Lakeland Public Library
  Friday, May 30th | 10 AM - 11 AM

   

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  Larry R. Jackson Branch Library
  Summer Kick-Off Touch-A-Truck

  Climb aboard, destination: Florida! Enjoy crafts, games, and snacks, and see unique vehicles including the following: 

  • A fire truck with Lakeland Fire Department 
  • An ambulance with Polk County Fire Rescue 
  • A bearcat with Lakeland Police Department's SWAT Team 
  • A garbage truck with the City of Lakeland's Solid Waste Department 
  • A Citrus Connection bus 

  Larry R. Jackson Branch Library
  Saturday, May 31st | 10 AM - 12 PM

   

• Reading Logs and Weekly Prizes

  Pick up your reading log at any Lakeland library location.

  Read at least 3 days each week and have your adult sign each week’s bead.

  Bring your log in to any Lakeland library to get your sticker and a free prize every week. You’ll want to collect them all!

• Reading with the Rays

  Reading with the Rays is back. Pick up your game sheet at any Lakeland Library. Track your time spent reading by rounding the bases and collecting Rays prizes along the way.

• Hero of Your Story Polk County Adventure

  

  Visit select public libraries in Polk County to pick up an adventure map.
  Travel to different libraries in Polk County to complete challenges and earn stickers.
  Collect them all to be entered into a prize basket raffle.

   

   

• Wild Florida 101 at the Larry R. Jackson Branch

  Saturday, July 19th from 12-2 pm at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library 
  Ages 7-14 

  Calling all explorers! Drop by on to engross yourselves in the wild world of Florida’s flora and fauna. Learn about the sunshine state by smelling interestingly icky smells, making tasty terrains, and touching swampy slimes!

  No registration required. No live animals will be present at this event.

• Spools Out for Summer! Sewing Camps

  

  Sewing is a fun, creative outlet that develops dexterity, fine motor skills, patience, and self-confidence.

  In each four-day sewing series, kids will learn how to use a sewing machine, basic stitches, and hand-sewing skills as they make fun projects to take home.

  Registration is required and will open one week before classes begin. Registration is for all four (4) classes (three (3) for teen sewing) in the camp, but seating is limited. If you are registering more than one child for the series, you will need to register each child separately to reserve a seat for each.

  **NOTE: If you have attended any Spools Out for Summer kids or teens session previously, you are not eligible to register for this learn-to-sew series. Any repeat registrants will be removed from the list.**

  Lakeland Public Library - The Commons 
  Session 1: Monday, June 9 – Thursday, June 12 @ 10 am (ages 9-13)
  Session 2: Monday, June 16 – Wednesday, June 18 @ 2 pm (ages 13-17)
  Session 3: Monday, July 21 – Thursday, July 24 @ 10 am (ages 9-13)

  Larry R. Jackson Branch Meeting Room 
  Session 1: Tuesday, June 24 – Friday, June 27 @ 10 am (ages 9-13)
  Session 2: Monday, July 14 – Wednesday, July 16 @ 10 am (ages 13-17)
  Session 3: Monday, July 28 – Thursday, July 31 @ 10am (ages 9-13)

   

   

• Summer Kids Crochet Club at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library

  
  

  Every Wednesday in June and July from 12-1 pm
  Hooked on crochet? Kids and teens ages 9-17 are invited to the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library to work on their current project, or to start something new. Crocheters of all skill levels are welcome, and while kids are encouraged to bring their own supplies, yarn and hooks will be provided as needed.
  Crafting boosts fine motor skills, improves coordination, allows for creativity and self-expression, and teaches flexibility.
  
  No registration is required.
  Knitters and other fiber artists are welcome, though there will only be crochet instructors available.

• Film Fridays at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library

  Every Friday in June and July at 2 pm
  Enjoy a family movie at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library every Friday all summer long! Popcorn and candy will be provided. No registration required.
  
  June 6: The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
  June 13: Transformers One
  June 20: Wicked
  June 27: Luca
  July 11: Moana 2
  July 18: The Wild Robot
  July 25: Despicable Me 4
  August 1: A Minecraft Movie

*Due to limited space and the nature of the events, we cannot accommodate summer camps, daycares, or groups*

EVENTS

• 

  Summer Storytimes at Lakeland Libraries

  Storytime is on for the summer! Join us for songs, stories, and fun!

  Kelly Branch Library Preschool Storytime (10:15 AM select Tuesdays); ages 2-5 
  June 3, 17
  July 1, 15

  Lakeland Public Library Preschool Storytime (10 AM Wednesdays); ages 2-5 
  June 4, 11, 18, 25
  July 2, 9, 16, 23

  Larry Jackson Branch Library Preschool Storytime (10 AM Thursdays); ages 2-5 
  June 5, 12
  July 3, 10, 17, 24

  Lakeland Public Library Baby Storytime (11 AM Thursdays); ages birth-18 months 
  June 5, 12, 26
  July 3, 10 ,17, 24

  Larry R. Jackson Branch Library Bilingual Storytime (10 AM select Thursdays); ages 2-5 
  Thursday, June 26
  Thursday, July 31

  Lakeland Public Library Children's Theater Interactive Storytime (2 PM select Saturdays); ages 4 an up 
  Saturday, June 14
  Saturday, July 12

  For more information, please contact the Kelly Branch Library at 863.834.4286, Lakeland Public Library at 863.834.4268, or Larry R. Jackson Branch Library at 863.834.4288  

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  Monday Fun Days at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library

  Let's have some Florida fun! Join us each Monday at 10 AM at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library as we enjoy crafts and activities themed around the great destinations and landmarks of Florida. Some crafts may get messy, so please wear appropriate clothing! 

   Monday Fun Day is recommended for kids ages 5-13 and their grown-ups 

  June 2: Destination: Space Coast! Meet our friends from the Imperial Polk Astronomical Society
  June 9: Destination: Daytona International Speedway! Meet our friends from City Garage Motorsports
  June 16: Destination: St. Augustine! Meet our friends from Homeland Heritage Park
  June 23: Destination: Weeki Wachee! Meet our friends from Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and get your face painted by Princesses and Pirates Face Painting
  June 30: Destination: Dry Tortugas! Meet our friends from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
  July 7: Destination: Beaches!
  July 14: Destination: Everglades! Meet our friends from Se7en Wetlands
  July 21: Destination: Theme Parks! Meet your favorite characters with our friends from Costumers with a Cause

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  Florida Fridays at the Lakeland Public Library

  This summer, come get to know the Sunshine State with our Florida Friday events! Each Friday from 10 AM to 12 PM, join us at the Lakeland Public Library for a Florida-themed craft and a variety of fun activities that capture Florida's vibrant flair.
  
  June 6: Destination: Space Coast!
  June 13: Destination: Daytona International Speedway!
  June 20: Destination: St. Augustine!
  June 27: Destination: Weeki Wachee!
  July 11: Destination: Beaches!
  July 18: Destination: Everglades!
  July 25: Destination: Theme Parks!

   

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  Summer STEAM

  LEGO Club at the Larry R. Jackson Branch
  Calling all young builders, makers, architects, and engineers! The Larry R. Jackson Branch Library invites you to our LEGO club. Beginners and experts ages 5-17 and their grown-ups are welcome to come work on their own LEGO creations or take our themed challenge. Playing with LEGO bricks promotes hand/eye coordination, enhances fine motor skills, develops problem solving skills, increases attention/concentration span, and unleashes creativity.
  No registration required.

  Every Tuesday in June and July, alternating afternoons and evenings

  June 3: 5-6:30 pm
  June 10: 2:30-4 pm
  June 17: 5-6:30 pm
  June 24: 2:30-4 pm
  July 1: 5-6:30 pm
  July 8: 2:30-4 pm
  July 15: 5-6:30 pm
  July 22: 2:30-4 pm

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  STEAM Explorers at the Lakeland Public Library
  Every Wednesday in June and July at 3:30 pm
  Ages 16-12
  Join us at the Lakeland Public Library as we create, learn, and explore the world around us through hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math: STEAM!
  
  Beakers & Books – June 4 & July 2
  Wonder Robotics – June 11 & July 9
  Kids’ Corner Art – June 18 & July 16
  Tech-Know Time – June 25 & July 23
  
  Registration is required and will open one week before the event.