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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

Fall Back Reading Challenge

Ages: 18 and up
Challenge: 15 hours
Timeline: September 1–November 30, 2025

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

Our Fall Back Reading Challenge is open to readers age 18 and up. Participants can read or listen to books from any source, including the library’s collections. 

Who can participate? Any reader age 18 and up. To get started, sign up on Beanstack or use a paper log. When the goal is completed, participants will receive

  • a voucher for one free slice of Rosati's pizza (Warrenville);
  • a voucher for one free game of bowling at Main Event; 
  • a BOGO roller skate coupon at Funway; and
  • a grand prize* drawing entry.

Earn additional drawing tickets by completing the challenge multiple times (for each 15 hours read) or by completing an optional activity (see activities in Beanstack or on the paper log). 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 graphic novels. Books can be read or listened to (audiobooks and Playaways count). 

For more information or book recommendations, contact our Adult Services: 630/393-1171 x121; adultservices@warrenville.com

*Grand prizes include:

  • Main Event Family Fun Pass 
  • Foxy, Fly and Fresh bundle: Jazza Nails gift card, Lip Smackers and Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea lotion
  • School Book Fair bundle: Anderson's gift card, Mixtape journal and a bookmark
  • Adult Juicebox bundle (Ages 21 and up): Two bottles of wine and an Evolet Eve gift card
  • Let's Get Physical bundle: Recycled Cycling gift Card and a Retro Rollerskate LEGO set
  • Veg Out and Chillax bundle: Rosati's gift card and an inflatable chair

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?