JMRL Reading Challenges
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Get started now with Beanstack to log progress.
Use these sheets for marking progress - the first 50 books
Find more: Books 51 - 100 | Books 101 - 200 | Books 201 - 300 | Books 301 - 400 | Books 401 - 500 | Books 501 - 600 | Books 601 - 700 | Books 701 - 800 | Books 801 - 900 | Books 901 - 1000
2023 Summer Challenge
June 1 - August 31, 2023
Welcome to the JMRL Summer Challenge! The program is open to all ages - children, teens, and adults
This year's theme, All Together Now : Todos Juntos Ahora – Kindness / Friendship / Unity is about support and care for eachother.
How does it work?
- Starting May 22, you can sign onto Beanstack, register for the Summer Challenge, and begin tracking your reading. Start completing activities to earn badges and prizes beginning June 1. Use your existing Beanstack account, or see the sidebar for more information about creating a free account.
- Complete 5 activities each month during June, July, and August to earn a badge. Completing the first 5 activities each month will also earn a prize, which you can pick up at any JMRL location. Complete more activities to earn more badges and chances for the grand prize drawing at the end of the summer.
- Keep track of your activities on your Beanstack account, and follow along with three paper challenge sheets, one for each month.
- If you begin the challenge later in the summer, it’s not too late to try all the activities and earn the badges and prizes.
Want a print version to track reading and activities? Download the sheets for June, July, and August.
What are the prizes?
- Complete 5 activities between June 1 and August 31: a free book (for children, the choice between a book and an activity book)
- Complete 5 activities between July 1 and August 31: a free book
- Complete 5 activities between August 1 - 31: a free book
- Grand Prize Drawings - after August 31, a drawing for gift cards with a total value of $75 at each JMRL location; one drawing for adults, one for teens, one for children. Gift cards may vary by location; check with your local JMRL branch for details.
Download the flyer about JMRL summer reading challenge and summer events.
Also keep an eye on the Calendar for fun events all summer long!
Watch for more challenges throughout the year.
Sign up for a free account at jmrl.beanstack.org.
Offering reading programs for all ages with
In addition to the annual Summer Reading Challenge, JMRL offers reading challenges throughout the year on our Beanstack website and mobile app. Register for a Beanstack account using the Beanstack Tracker App or our Beanstack website.
You can log reading ANYTIME through our Beanstack app or website, but only reading logged on dates during an active challenge will count towards that challenge.
Go to jmrl.beanstack.org to get started!
How do I create a free account?
- Go to jmrl.beanstack.org. Under Create an Account, choose Register an Individual or Family. You can register only yourself, or if you're the parent of a child, you can either register just the child, or both of you on a family account.
Follow the instructions and you'll earn a signup badge, along with the chance to register for a current reading challenge. As JMRL introduces later challenges, you can keep your same account and not have to register again.
How do I create a family account?
- You can register multiple family members under one account. Follow the same instructions in the above question. It's recommended that an adult register first, and when that account is created, children and other family members can each be added as "readers". There will be multiple readers under one login.
Do I need to provide an email address to register on Beanstack?
- You can create your account with just a username and password if you'd like. But if you participate in challenges that offer prize drawings, you'll want to provide either an email address or a phone number so JMRL can contact you if you win!
I think I created an account for an earlier challenge, but I don’t remember the password. Should I create a new account?
- If you provided your email address when you signed up, go to jmrl.beanstack.org, click Sign In, and click Forgot Your Password? If you did not provide an email address, check with the staff at your nearest JMRL location for assistance in resetting your password.
Do I have to provide all the information requested when signing up for an account?
- The boxes with a red asterisk next to them are the only ones that are required. You’re welcome to fill out the information in other boxes if you want to, but those are optional.
Can I access Beanstack on my phone or other device?
- Yes! Beanstack Tracker is a mobile app that is free for iOS and Android users.
You can add it from Apple's App Store or Google Play. When it's on your device, you can log in with your Beanstack username and password, and log your reading and activities there.
If you like, you can also quickly add titles to your log by using your camera to scan ISBN barcodes for books you've read.
How do I get prizes I've earned in the challenges?
- Each time you reach a reading milestone in your challenge, you'll earn a badge to celebrate your achievement. In some challenges, a badge may come with a prize. If you've earned one of those badges, you'll be notified that there is a prize waiting for you to pick up at your local branch.
- If the challenge has a grand prize drawing at the end, you will be notified by JMRL staff if your name is drawn as a winner.
I have other questions. What do I do?
- Read more on the Beanstack FAQ page.
- Contact your local branch or phone the Central Library at 434.979.7151.
- Email beanstack@jmrl.org.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
