READsquared Reading Program

Missions

Our librarians have put together several activities, for a variety of challenges and levels. Complete an activity and you might unlock a more advanced one, and bragging rights, cool badges and maybe even a prize!

100 Things To Do Before Kindergarten

List of fun things to do with your child before they enter kindergarten.

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1080 Pts

Bonus Missions - All Together Now

Try these bonus Missions to add to your reading experience! They are not required, just fun to do - but they are worth points you can add to your reading minutes!

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Community Connections

A list of activities to help you engage with your community in new and meaningful ways.

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Create Something!

Get creative this Summer! Take the time to create a work of art, a poem, or whatever else you would like to make! Teens are invited to attend Chit, Chat, and Craft this summer where we will be making art all summer. For more information, visit elpl.org or email Rheanna, the Teen Services Specialist, at rreeder@cityofeastlansing.com.

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Kindness Counts

Do something nice and show kindness to others! These activities are great ways to show your generosity.

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Share the Joy

Let's work together! Complete the activities below with your little one.

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Read a Book About Diverse Abilities

Challenge yourself to read diverse books this Summer! Read a book about life with diverse abilities. Visit the teen room room to pick up a book list next time you are at the library or check out YA: Diverse Abilities with links to our online catalog. Once the mission is complete, you will earn 100 points towards: program completion and/or an additional entry into the grand prize drawing!

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60 Pts

Take Chalk Outside & Make Some Art!

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108 Pts

Tell or Write a Story

Create your very own story! It doesn't have to be long, just yours. Make it funny, or sad, or action-packed. Share it with a friend or one of your grown-ups!

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60 Pts

Recite a Nursery Rhyme Together

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Volunteer at ELPL

Volunteer for 100 minutes at the library this summer and earn 100 points towards: program completion and/or an additional entry into the grand prize drawing! Talk to the Teen Services Librarian (Rheanna) at the library for more information or you can email her at rreeder@cityofeastlansing.com. Volunteer options include children's services, cleaning around the library, organizing the shelves, putting crafts together, and other service as needed.

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108 Pts

Listen to an Audio Book or Podcast

Look for a kids' podcast or audiobook - be sure to check the podcast, most intended for kids are clearly labeled. Listen to the story! What did you think?

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60 Pts

Take a Walk & Talk About What You See

There's a whole world out there, time to see it! Pick a fun path in your neighborhood or in a park and go for a walk together. What do you see? Talk about what you see around you as you walk together.

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Write a Book Review

Write a book review on the ELPL website to complete the mission and earn 100 points! Writing a review is simple. First go to elpl.org and login to your account. Next, search for a book in the catalog that you want to review. Then click on the title, give it a star rating, and scroll down to write 3-5 sentences about the book! Copy what you wrote on the website here on ReadSquared to complete the mission.

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108 Pts

Write a Note to Someone Special

Write a note to someone you care about! You don't have to send it, but they would probably love to get a note from you. This note can be on paper or an email or even a text message!

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108 Pts

Create Some Art or a Poem

Stories can get our creative minds going! Get art and writing supplies together and try making some art or a poem inspired by your reading or your favorite topic. Or try making both!

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Library Event

Attend a Library Event to complete this mission and earn 100 points towards program completion! Visit our Events Page on elpl.org to see all of the events for teens this summer, including Pride Prom on 6/6 and the Summer Kickoff Party on 6/8! Although we hope you can attend every event this summer, this mission can only be earned once. For more information, email Rheanna, the Teen Services Specialist, at rreeder@cityofeastlansing.com.

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60 Pts

Sing a Wake-Up Song Together

Lots of people sing lullabies before going to sleep, but you can also sing a wake-up song to start the day! If you need ideas, ELPL has lots of kids music to check out.

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LGBTQ+ Voices

Challenge yourself to read diverse books this summer! Read a book by a Queer author about the LGBTQ+ experience. Visit the teen room room to pick up a book list next time you are at the library or check out Pride All Year: LGBTQ+ YA Recommendations with links to our online catalog. Once the mission is complete, you will earn 100 points towards: program completion and/or an additional entry into the grand prize drawing!

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108 Pts

Participate in a Library Program

Need something fun to do? Stop by East Lansing Public Library this summer! We have a ton of fun free programs for all ages - to learn about them stop by our building at 950 Abbot Road in East Lansing or stop by our Events page on our website, ELPL.ORG! If you have any questions about children's programs, please contact our youth services librarian, Gillian! She can be reached at 517-319-6840 or gstreet@cityofeastlansing.com.

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60 Pts

Read an ABCs, Counting, or Shape Book

Early concept books are about things like ABCs, numbers and counting, colors, and shapes! Find and share one of these books together.

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Celebrate Black Voices

Challenge yourself to read diverse books this summer! Check out a book written by Black Voices. Stop into the teen room to grab a book list the next time you are at the library or check out Celebrate Black Voices with links to our online catalog. Once the mission is complete, you will earn 100 points towards program completion and/or an additional entry into the grand prize drawing!

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60 Pts

Play a Baby/Pre-K-Friendly Instrument Like Maracas, Shakers, or Jingle Bells

Let's make some music! Find a baby-friendly instrument like shaker eggs, jingle bells, or maracas - or make your own with pots, pans, a plastic bowl, and a spoon. It's noisy but that's music!

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Read a Book with Multiple Authors

Challenge yourself to read a book written by multiple authors! This can be fiction or nonfiction, and if you need some ideas visit the teen room for a booklist or check out our online catalog on elpl.org! Once the mission is complete, you will earn 100 points towards program completion and/or an additional entry into the grand prize drawing!

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108 Pts

Take a Walk with Someone Special

Pick a safe path in your neighborhood, at a park, near stores, at a festival - wherever you like! Take a stroll with someone you care about - one of your grownups or a friend - or a few friends. It's your walk! You could talk as you go or enjoy the weather. If you have a pet that likes to go on walks, bring them along. If it's a long walk, be sure to bring water along!

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108 Pts

Draw a Self-Portrait

A self-portrait is like a selfie - except you draw! You can use a photo or a mirror as you draw, but you don't have to. You can even draw a self-portrait of how you're feeling that day, or what you're thinking about. If you choose to draw your face, you could make a silly face or draw how you'd look in the fanciest outfit you can imagine. It's your portrait - make it how you like!

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60 Pts

Read a Rhyming Book & Emphasize the Rhymes

Rhyming books are a great way to play with words and sounds. Read a rhyming story or poetry book and really focus on those rhymes. Say them loud or soft, repeat them a couple times, pick your favorite word and shout it out loud!

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Read Something New

Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone and read something new! If you like romance, maybe try a fantasy or sci-fi novel! If you like graphic novels, maybe try a book of poetry. It's up to you. Stop by the teen room the next time you are at the library and grab a book list or check out our online catalog! Once the mission is complete, you will earn 100 points towards: program completion and/or an additional entry into the grand prize drawing!

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108 Pts

Read a Book Outside Your Comfort Zone

Sometimes we read only one kind of book or only books by one author - but we might be missing out on amazing new stories! Pick a story you don't usually read. Maybe the main character is different from you. Maybe you usually read action stories - you could try reading a mystery story. Maybe this is the first graphic novel you've ever read. Or maybe the first audio book you've ever heard! Branch out and try something new.

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60 Pts

Retell a Favorite Story Together

Retell a favorite story together, one you've read a couple times. Your little one can practice things like remembering the beginning, middle, and end of a story this way!

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Talk About a Book

Books are even more fun with friends! Read a book together with a friend or discuss your favorite book. Once the mission is complete, you will earn 100 points towards program completion and/or an additional entry into the grand prize drawing!

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108 Pts

Make a Picnic & Enjoy it Outside

Picnics are a great way to test your planning skills. First, check the weather. Sunny days are good days for picnics. Next, where outside do you want to go? Parks can be fun but so can your backyard or a friend's yard. Who is coming to your picnic? Knowing that will help you plan what kind of food and how much to bring. Last, what do you want to eat on your picnic and how can you pack it so it will be ready to eat? Do you want to bring bubbles or games to play outside for after your lunch? While these sound like a lot of steps, it doesn't have to be fancy or difficult. Have a fantastic time!

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60 Pts

Make a Sensory Bin - Fill with Dry Beans or Rice, Water, or Soap Foam, & Play Away!

Sensory bins are a great way to explore messy things in a contained way. Fill a shallow plastic bowl or dishpan or bin with dry rice, or dry beans, or water, or soap foam, or bubbles - or something like that, that is safe for your little one to explore with you! Always stay with your little one when playing with water or soap, for safety.

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108 Pts

Play a Game with Someone Special

Pick out a game and a someone special to play it with - or several special someones! It could be a board game, a card game, hide-and-seek, whatever you like.

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60 Pts

Sing the ABCs Together a Few Times!

The ABCs are a great way to practice letter names. Sing the ABC song together a couple times throughout a day or week to practice - say each letter name clearly, especially L-M-N-O-P!

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60 Pts

Point Out Shapes, Letters, and Numbers Wherever You See Them!

As you go through your day, point out Shapes, Letters, Numbers, and Colors to your little one, especially ones that are familiar (like the letters in their name, or a favorite color, or a shape they see often). They will start to point them out to you too!

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60 Pts

Clap in Rhythm to Music or a Song

Music is a great way to play with sound and rhythm - it not only helps with speaking skills for babies, but it helps older children practice sounds and rhythm for reading! Clap along to a new or favorite song. Find music with a strong rhythm!

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60 Pts

Point to the Words on the Page as You Read Together

There's a lot to see in a picture book - point out the words of the story as you read along. This works great to remind kids that pictures and marks on a page have meaning!

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60 Pts

Put a Simple Puzzle Together

Simple puzzles for young children are more about recognizing outlined shapes. Find a 'chunky' shape puzzle that has handles for very babies and toddlers. Older toddlers and preschoolers might like a 10-piece puzzle or a puzzle with lots of shapes. Work on a puzzle together!

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60 Pts

Hold a Book Together So Your Child Can Practice Turning Pages

The mechanics of a book are as important as the story inside - where's the front? The back? How do those pages work? Start with a board book for babies and young toddlers and practice turning pages together. Older toddlers and preschoolers can turn pages with their grownup until they're confident to turn pages alone. Teamwork makes the dream work!

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60 Pts

Use Early Math Words like Big/Small, Top/Bottom, Over/Under, & How Many When Playing

Early math terms are very simple. You can use 'opposite' words that compare locations (like OVER and UNDER, TOP and BOTTOM) and that compare size or order (FIRST and LAST, BIG and SMALL). You can also use 'how many' and 'when' to encourage counting and start introducing time concepts. Math is all around us!

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60 Pts

Draw or Paint a Picture or Make a Clay Sculpture Together

Art is hands-on! Get art supplies like paint, crayons, markers, paper, clay, stamps, cardboard - whatever works for you and your child! Use those supplies to make a piece of art! Talk about what you're doing as you go. How do the supplies feel in your hands?

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60 Pts

Practice Writing Letter Shapes in Finger Paints, Shaving Cream, Pudding, or Other Fun Materials

Letter shapes are important and take practice to learn - hands-on practice! Use something you and your child are comfortable with - finger paints, shaving cream, pudding - or dry rice or sand! Adjust if your child has any sensory issues (if the material doesn't feel good to their hands, try something different instead!). Trace some letter shapes in your material together. If you haven't found the right material, try tracing letter shapes printed on paper. Notice and talk about those shapes - which are pointy? Which are round?

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