Color Our World
Your Summer Reading Library Adventure.
Through August 15, 2025, celebrate the power of books to add joy, creativity, and color to our world.
About Summer Reading
The Library invites all to read, create, learn, and imagine during the Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is “Color Our World.”
Explore books and programs at your Library that infuse fascinating, lively, and vivid hues to your life no matter your tastes – gorgeously illustrated picture books, funny graphic novels, awesome audiobooks, riveting real-life adventures, or fantastic fiction picks.

How to Participate
- Register yourself or your entire family on Beanstack or register at any Library location, including Bookmobile stops or Pop in at the Park events.
- Read ANY five books in any format between May 30 and August 15. Try something new from the suggested reading lists. Hardcover, audiobook, eBook, or graphic novel – everything counts!
- Log your reads on Beanstack.
Prize Info
Once you’ve logged five books, you may claim a prize:
- Snack cup (Infant/Toddler)
- Coloring Tote (Youth)
- Pint Glass (Adult)

Upcoming Summer Reading Activities
Suggestions
Our reading experts have selected titles for all ages that fit the Color Our World theme. Find these recommendations and fun activities to print for everyone below.
Summer Reading Tips
Using an online book logging tool called Beanstack, both adult readers and parents of young readers can record and manage completed books. You can also download the Beanstack Tracker mobile app to read and log on the go!
- Go to kclibrary.beanstack.org
- First-time users: select Register as an Individual or Family.
- Existing users: Under “Already registered on this site?” click Sign In, and log in with your username and password
- On the next screen, select I am registering myself (This option is used to register individuals, children, and multiple readers).
- New users will select a username and password. Complete all required fields on the registration form. Registration for Adult or Youth programs is organized by selecting your Year of Birth in the "In What Year Were You Born?" drop-down menu field.
- From there you can begin logging your books.
- Once you have met the reading goals, you earn a reward! Library staff will check your record to confirm you have completed the reading or activity criteria.
Download the Beanstack Tracker app to manage your reading log from anywhere!
- Reserve books (and other Library materials) by logging into the catalog using your free online account at kclibrary.org/catalog.
- Don't have a Library card? Go to kclibrary.org/card to sign up and get immediate access to books, eBooks, digital audiobooks, streaming movies and music, digital resources, and more. You can also check your current library card status.
- If a favorite book is currently on the shelf at another Kansas City Public Library location, it can be delivered to your neighborhood branch. Contact us for assistance, or use the online catalog to place a hold and choose the Library location where you’d like to pick it up.
- Find select eBook and digital audiobook editions. Visit kclibrary.org/digital for more details.
- Audiobooks and Playaway titles count as reading!
- The Library offers two online reading recommendation tools.
- NoveList offers genre-specific reading lists as well as read-alike suggestions based on your favorite author.
- Booklist Online reviews and recommends fiction and nonfiction alike.
- Try out the Library’s Shelf Help service and get some customized book suggestions tailored to your tastes by our experts! Get started at kclibrary.org/shelf-help.
The Summer Reading Program is an initiative of the Kansas City Public Library aimed at encouraging leisure reading. The program advances a yearly theme as a means of inspiring children, teens, and adults to discover new or different ideas, experiences, or viewpoints through reading and other activities supported and suggested by the Library.
Made Possible with Support From

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.