The 2026 CBRL Summer Reading starts June 27th!
This year’s theme is Forest of Wonder: A Summer Reading Fairyland!
The challenge begins this month, starting June 27 and finishing August 22.
Read books, do fun activities, and win amazing prizes!
Here’s how it works:
- Go to your local library to register (registration opens June 27). Borrow by Mail members can email borrowbymail@cbrl.ca to request summer reading materials.
- Children will receive a logbook; for every 300 minutes read (up to 1200 minutes), they get to pick an item from the treasure chest and add a ballot to the Grand Prize Draw!
- Teens/Adults will receive a bingo card; each square completed will earn them a ballot (max. 5) for the Grand Prize Draw, and a bonus ballot will be given to those who complete a bingo line!
- Return your logbooks and bingo cards to your local library by August 22
Thank you to Ray Smith (Artbyraysmith) for providing this year’s Summer Reading illustrations!
More Details
- The children’s program is open to anyone ages 0-13
- The teen/adult program is open to ages 13 and up. (13-year-olds may choose to participate in either the children’s program or the teen/adult program.)
Logging Reading and Activities (Children’s Program)
· Children log their reading and activities by colouring in the shapes in their booklets.
· Reading is logged by minutes: each shape represents 20 minutes.
· Milestones are reached at the 300, 600, 900, and 1200 minute marks.
Treasure Chests and Ballots
· Participants can show their logs to staff each time they reach a milestone (e.g. 300 minutes for kids, one challenge for adults), in exchange for an initial and a ballot.
· Children may earn bonus ballots by completing activities, up to a total of 6 ballots. Teens/adults may earn up to 5 ballots (4 activities and 1- bonus ballot if their activities are in a bingo line).
· Children can also choose an item from the treasure chest each time they reach a milestone.
Children’s Grand Prizes
· Overnight stay courtesy of the Holiday Inn Sydney Waterfront.
· LEGO prize package.
· Scooter and helmet.
Teen/Adult Grand Prizes
· Wake up in the Past – an overnight experience at the Fortress Louisbourg (in 2027), courtesy of Parks Canada.
· Book Lover’s Prize ($50 Indigo gift card & $50 On the Samepage Bookstore gift card)
· Movie Lover’s Prize ($100 Cineplex Gift Cards)
CBRL Summer Reading Club Rules and Regulations
Eligibility
The CBRL summer reading club is open to all residents of, and visitors to, Cape Breton and Victoria Counties. Current members of the Cape Breton Regional Library Board and employees of the Cape Breton Regional Library may participate in the club but cannot win prizes. Immediate family members of current board members and staff—e.g. their children, grandchildren, partners, parents, and siblings—may participate and win prizes.
Privacy
All personal information required to enter the club, such as name and contact information, is collected solely for the purpose of administering the program and will not be used for any other purpose. By providing this information, you consent to it being used for the stated purposes.
By participating in the club, participants permit CBRL to use their first name, first initial of their surname, and their home branch on the library’s website and/or social media platforms when announcing the winners of the Grand Prize Draws. The winner or the winner’s parent or guardian (if the winner is under 18) will be asked for consent prior to any photographs being taken and shared on CBRL’s website and/or social media platforms.
Photos may be featured on CBRL’s website and/or social media platforms and may be used by CBRL for any future promotional and publicity purposes without further compensation.
Selection and Notification
Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries received prior to the program closing date. The odds of winning are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.
Winners will be notified within three (3) days of selection by the form/method of contact they provided when they initially registered for the program (e.g. phone or email).
If a winner does not respond to such notification within five (5) business days and/or does not meet the stated eligibility requirements, the winner will be disqualified. CBRL reserves the right to randomly select an alternate winner from the remaining eligible entries.
Claiming Prizes
The winner must pick up their prize or prize voucher from a CBRL branch within fourteen (14) days of winning. If the winner has not picked up their prize within fourteen (14) days, the prize will be awarded to another eligible participant.
All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and have no cash value.