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Reading Challenges

WPLD offers a variety of reading challenges designed to inspire readers of all ages and interests. Challenges for students and very young children include flexible timelines and small prizes to celebrate reading milestones. For summer and winter reading programs, participants track hours spent reading and receive grand prize drawing entries for fun items when the challenge is completed. Special challenges for a specific audience and time period are occasionally offered. 

Here’s how the challenges work:

  • Read or listen to books from any source—including our library’s physical collections, the library's digital collections available through Hoopla and Libby, books from a school library or downloaded on an app.
  • To participate, create an individual or family account and track progress using the Beanstack website or Beanstack mobile app. See app instructions in the Quick Guides section. 
  • Prefer to track on paper? Paper reading logs are available to print (linked below) or pick up at the library.
  • To earn free gifts and enter grand prize drawings, make sure all reading is recorded in Beanstack or submitted to the library. Seasonal challenges have specific completion deadlines.
  • It's not necessary to have a WPLD library card to participate, although studies have shown that children with their own library cards tend to read more and do better in school. Register for a library card.
  • Don’t forget to count library storytimes and listening to audiobooks.

Ready to start reading? Scroll down to view the details for current reading challenges. 

1,000 Books and More Before Kindergarten

Ages: Birth–Before Kindergarten
Challenge: 1,000 Books
Timeline: Self-paced

Track on Beanstack: Online | Mobile App 
Track with paper logs: Available at the library or Printable and Printable Activities

Set your little ones up for success in school and build a love of reading in their early years by enjoying 1,000 books before their first day of kindergarten. Prizes are given for each 100 books read. After completing the challenge, participants can choose a free book from a variety of different themes and authors. Children will also be invited to a biannual graduation event.

Who can participate? Any child from birth to age 5 who has not yet entered kindergarten may participate. To get started, sign up on Beanstack or use a paper log. 

What counts towards the 1,000 books goal? Any book a child enjoys (reads, listens to someone else read, listens to an audiobook or Playaway). Attendance at library storytimes counts toward the goal. Repeated readings of the same book also count. 

In addition to reading 1,000 books, participants earn optional activity badges involving shared reading, music, play and discovery. 

For more information or book recommendations, contact our Youth Services Desk: 630/393-1171 x124; youthservices@warrenville.com

500 Books Before Fifth Grade

Ages: Grades K–4
Challenge: 500 Books
Timeline: Self-paced

Track on Beanstack: Online | Mobile App
Track with paper logs: Available at the library or Printable 

This program challenges readers to discover favorite books while continuing to grow vocabulary skills and interests in a variety of topics. Prizes are given for every 50 books read. After completing the challenge, participants can choose a free book from a variety of different themes and authors.    

Who can participate? Students in kindergarten through fourth grade, up until the first day of fifth grade, may participate. To get started, sign up on Beanstack or use a paper log. 

What counts toward the 500 books goal? Any book a child enjoys (reads, listens to someone else read, listens to an audiobook or Playaway). Attendance at library storytimes counts toward the goal. 

For more information or book recommendations, contact our Youth Services Desk: 630/393-1171 x124; youthservices@warrenville.com

100 Books Before High School

Ages: Grades 5–8
Challenge: 100 Books
Timeline: Self-paced

Track on Beanstack: Online | Mobile App 
Track with paper logs: Available at the library or Printable 

This program challenges readers to discover favorite books while continuing to grow vocabulary skills and interests in a variety of topics. Prizes are given for every 25 books read. After 50 books read, participants will  choose a free book from a variety of different themes and authors. After completing the challenge, participants will receive a branded tote bag with a few gifts. 

Who can participate? Student in grades 5 through 8, up until the first day of high school, may participate. To get started, sign up on Beanstack or use a paper log. See links above.

What counts toward the 100 books goal? Any type of  book whether it's nonfiction, fiction or graphic novels. Books can be read or listened to (audiobooks and Playaways count). 

For more information or book recommendations, contact our Youth Services Desk: 630/393-1171 x124; youthservices@warrenville.com

Cute yeti sitting in a snowy forest reading a red book.

Winter Reading Challenge

Ages: All ages
Challenge: 8 hours
Timeline: January 1–February 28, 2026

Track on Beanstack: Online | Mobile App
Track with paper logs: Available at the library or Printable

Our Winter Reading Challenge is open to readers of all ages and abilities. Participants can read or listen to books from any source, in any format. Be creative!

Who can participate? Everyone! To get started, sign up on Beanstack or use a paper log. When the goal is completed, participants will earn a grand prize* drawing entry and receive:

  • Kids & Teens—gifts like small stuffed animals, bubbles, etc. for every 8 hours of reading
  • Adults—one vehicle ice scraper

Earn a bonus grand prize drawing entry for each additional 8 hours of reading. Only Warrenville Library cardholders are eligible to receive grand prizes.

What counts toward the goal? Any type of book whether it's nonfiction, fiction or a graphic novel. Books can be read or listened to (audiobooks and Playaways count).

For more information or book recommendations, contact:

Youth Services: 630/393-1171 x124 or youthservices@warrenville.com

Adult Services: 630/393-1171 x121 or adultservices@warrenville.com

*Grand prizes include:

  • Game Bundle: Yeti in My Spaghetti and Don't Break the Ice
  • Bigfoot Squishmallow and Yeti water bottle
  • Bluetooth winter hat and Starbucks cup
  • $30 Target Gift Card and Starbucks cup
  • Read Bundle: $50 Anderson Bookshop gift card and Yeti cup
  • Drink Bundle: $50 Cora Coffee & Tea gift card and Yeti cup

See a complete list of grand prizes on Beanstack and at the library.

Quick Guides

How do I use the Beanstack mobile app?

  1. Download the Beanstack mobile app.
  2. If using the app for the first time, click "Let's Go!"
  3. Select "School, Library, or Bookstore.
  4. Click "Find a Site" and search for the Warrenville Public Library.

Once you find our site, sign in or follow the registration prompts to set up your account.

How do I log my reading on Beanstack?