Two banners, side by side, with the same illustration. One says "All Together Now" in English and the other says "Todo Juntos Ahora" in Spanish. The illustration is of two girls of color blowing bubble gum and carrying a tray of books.Our 2023 Summer Reading Game starts on Monday, June 26th, and ends on Friday, August 18th. This year’s theme is All Together Now, celebrating community, activism, and making the world a better place.

What is the Summer Reading Game?

Every year, the Dobbs Ferry Library joins libraries around the world encouraging kids to read during their school break. Kids ages 3 to 12 are eligible for our children’s summer reading game. Kids below the age of 3 are encouraged to sign up for our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge

All you have to do is follow 5 easy steps to earn prizes to show off what a good reader you are!

  1. Sign up for an account at https://dobbsny03.readsquared.com/
  2. Set a goal for how much you’d like to read. The minimum goal is 5 hours over the course of the summer.
  3. Read! For every minute you read and log, you get 1 point. 
  4. (optional) Attend programs! For every program you attend and log, you get 75 points. See our calendar for the full list of programs.
  5. For every 10% of your goal that you reach, you get a prize! Readers who complete their goal will get a special surprise prize at the end of the summer.

Do I have to read anything specific?

Not at all! You’re welcome to read from the lists below, also available in the children’s room, if you want to read books aligned with our “All Together Now” theme. 

If you’re looking for the Dobbs Ferry School District’s reading lists, you can find them below:

What are some of the events I should attend?

You can check our calendar for a full listing of events. Registration is required for all of the below programs; highlights include:

  • Monday, June 26, at 12pm: Saving the Earth Together show with Talewise! Science and stories collide in this kickoff to our summer reading game! Two unlikely heroes must learn to work together to stop a super polluting mastermind. Throughout the story, you’ll help the performer conduct amazing science experiments all about air pressure, the laws of motion, chemical reactions, and much more! For ages 5+.
  • Tuesday – Thursday, June 11 – 13, from 4:15 to 5:45pmDungeon Master Academy. Dungeon Master Academy is a three day workshop for kids and teens that teaches you how to be a game master for Dungeons and Dragons (and other similar games). Participants must be able to attend all three sessions. For ages 8-18.
  • Wednesday, July 19th, from 3:30 to 4:30pm: All About Bioplastics with 4-H Explorations. Kids create casein plastic and PLA plastic, using food ingredients like milk and cornstarch, and mold it into a usable shape. This program will be presented by Stephen David Soltish of 4-H Explorations at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Curriculum Connection for Westchester County Schools, Camps, and Afterschool Programs. Ages 9-12. 
  • Wednesday, July 26th, 3:30-4:30pm: Upcycled Art with Nicole JonesNicole Jones of The Artful Event will teach kids how to make self portraits using fabric remnants, buttons, and jewelry scraps. For ages 6+
  • Wednesday, August 9th, 3:30-4:30pm: Who Polluted the River? with 4-H Explorations. Students learn the history of the Hudson River and how much human activity has polluted it. Then they try to clean up the mess using different technologies. For ages 5-12.
  • Friday, August 18th, 2-3pm: End of Summer Reading Finale Party. Close out the summer at our annual finale party, where special guest James McLeod (aka That Vitiligo Guy and author of My Daily Superpowers and The Boy Behind the Face) will stir up our positivity and inspire us to take the lessons from All Together Now forward with us as we move into the fall. Enjoy FREE ice cream from Penny Lick, games, and more! Everyone is welcome, whether or not you achieved your reading goal this summer. For all ages. 

I have a question and/or I need help! Who should I contact?

Stop by the children’s room Monday-Friday to speak to Ms. Gina, call (914) 693-6615, or email her at dobchildref@wlsmail.org.