Leveling up at the Homer library
“Level Up at Your Library” is the Homer Public Library’s all-ages summer reading program. Based around puzzles, games and creative play, nearly 50 free events and activities have been planned to encourage families to read, learn and play together and to keep youth reading and engaged throughout the non-school summer months.
Supported by the Friends of the Homer Public Library, the program runs through July 26. Activities for children and tweens include more than reading, and this year include a Chess Club and Book Clubs, a Lego building contest, opportunities to learn new crafts, tabletop games and how to draw comics, along with story time on the library’s Story Walk Trail in collaboration with Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies and a free movie at the Porcupine Theater.
To date, nearly 200 participants have signed up for the Summer Reading Challenge and there is still time to join in.
All activities take place at the Homer Public Library unless otherwise noted. Register for activities that require pre-registration at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library/summer-hpl-2025.
Register for the reading challenge and get your tracker at the library’s circulation desk. Track your reading to earn prizes and earn a set of Reading Dragons and Friends cards after completing each level (two hours of reading equals on level). Additional prizes will be given at level 4 and level 8. Earn rare cards for extra reading and side quests (library events listed below), and turn in your reading logs by 6 p.m. on Friday, July 25 to have them count for prize giveaways at the End of Summer Reading Party.
Weekly events and activities at the library through July
Outdoor Adventures & Stories with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies — Ages 6-9. Join the CACS day campers, their counselors and the youth services librarian for read-alouds, games and crafts at the library’s greenway in the Western Lot. Registration required. Mondays, 1-2:30 p.m.
Kids Chess Club — Ages kindergarten and up. Play chess with other youth, find your opponents and learn strategies. Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Toddler Story Time — Children ages 3 and younger with their caregivers can enjoy stories and songs. Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Lego Club — Lego fun building something new every week. Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Preschool Story Time — Children ages 3-6 and their caregivers can enjoy stories and songs. Fridays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
During the month of June
Family Story Time at Bishop’s Beach — Thursday, June 12, 10:30 a.m. Meet library staff at Bishop’s Beach for stories, a game and a chance to visit Bob the Book mobile.
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American Sign Language Club — Thursday, June 12, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Instructor Sherry Pederson will teach the basics of sign language through games and stories. Registration required. Club runs Thursdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. on June 12, June 19, June 26 and July 3.
Games for Teens & Tweens — Thursday, June 12, 4:45-6 p.m. Stop by and enjoy board games and more.
Make Your Own Game for Teens & Tweens — Tuesday, June 17, 4:45-5:45 p.m. Imagine, plan and create your own card or board game. Participants will meet weekly for six weeks: Tuesdays, June 17 and 24, July 1, 8, 15 and 22. For ages 12+.
Radio Story Time on KBBI — Thursday, June 19, 10-11 a.m. Listen as library staff and guests share stories and songs on the radio.
Virtual Author Talk: Katherine Applegate — Tuesday, June 24, 12-12:30 p.m. Applegate is the author of numerous books including “Odder,” “The One and Only Ivan,” and “Wishtree.” Watch and listen from the children’s room at the library or from home using the link found on the library website.
Crafternoon for Teens & Tweens — Thursday, June 26, 4:45-6 p.m. Join library staff for arts and crafts with all materials provided.
Scavenger Hunt at the Pratt Museum — Friday, June 27, 1-2 p.m. Join museum and library staff at the Pratt Museum for a fun scavenger hunt. For elementary school aged kids. Registration required.
Free Movie at the Porcupine — Saturday, June 28, 1:30 p.m. The Porcupine Theatre will host a surprise movie — title to be announced on the library website! Admission is free.
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Early Elementary Book Club: Mercy Watson is Missing — Monday, June 30, 3:30-4:30 p.m. “Mercy Watson is Missing” by Kate DiCamillo! Read the book then come to the library to discuss and do a related activity. Registration required. Each participant will receive a copy of the book and be automatically registered for the Elementary escape room game on July 18.
During the month of July
Fourth of July Pre-Parade Meet Up — Thursday, July 3, 2-3:30 p.m. Join library staff in making chess piece hats to wear in the parade as a celebration of chess.
Fourth of July Parade — Friday, July 4, time to be announced on the library website. Meet at the high school parking lot with your chess piece hat and/or wear white or black and join library staff in walking in the parade with BOB the Bookmobile. Children under 12 need be accompanied by an adult.
Virtual Author Talk: Raul the Third — Tuesday, July 8, 12-12:30 p.m. Watch and listen from the Children’s room at the library or at home using the link found on the library website. Raúl the Third is the author and illustrator of the ¡Vamos! books and the illustrator of “Stuntboy, in the Meantime” by Jason Reynolds.
Book Scavenger: Upper Elementary Book Club — Wednesday, July 9, 2-3 p.m. Read the book, then come to the library to discuss and do a related activity. Registration required. Each participant gets a copy of the book and is automatically registered for the Elementary escape room game on July 18.
Book Bingo — Thursday, July 10, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Play bingo and win prizes. For elementary school aged kids.
Mosaic Art with Sharlene Cline — Monday, July 14, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Make a mosaic tile. For kids’ kindergarten to second grade. Materials provided. Registration required.
The Inheritance Game Teen Book Club — Monday, July 14, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Pick up your book after you register, read it and then come to the meeting to discuss. All participants will also be automatically registered for the teen mystery party on July 17. Register for one or the other book club.
Warcross Teen Book Club 2 — Wednesday, July 15, 4:45-5:45 p.m. Pick up your book after you register, read it and then come to the meeting to discuss. All participants will also be automatically registered for the teen mystery party on July 17. Register for one or the other book club.
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Radio Story time on KBBI — Thursday, July 17, 10-11 a.m. Listen as library staff and guests share stories and songs on the radio.
Discerning the Truth with Marie Lu: Virtual Author Talk — Thursday, July 17, noon to 1 p.m. Watch and listen from the library’s meeting room or at home using the link provided on the library website. Lu is author of the Legend series. For teens and adults.
Teen Mystery Party: Echo Spy Academy — Thursday, July 17, 4:30-7:30 p.m. At Echo Academy, secrets and shadows are part of the curriculum. It’s not just any school, it’s the premier spy training ground for teens, where mastering the art of deception is as essential as acing your finals! Join us for a fun mystery party. After you register, you will be assigned a character. Follow the clues, question the other players and try to solve the mystery. Pizza and soft drinks will be served. For fifth grade and up. Registration required.
Time Travel Escape Quest! — Friday, July 18 1-3 p.m. You’re stuck in the wrong time! Work together to find clues and solve puzzles to fix your time machine and return to now. For kids in kindergarten through fourth grade. Snacks included. Registration required.
LEGO competition entry drop-off — Saturday, July 19 through Wednesday, July 23. Drop off LEGO competition by Wednesday, July 23. Winners announced at the End of Summer Reading Celebration on Saturday, July 26.
Mosaic Art with Sharlene Cline — Monday July 21, 3:30-4:30 p.m. and Thursday, July 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Make bottle cap mosaics. For grades 3-6. Registration required.
Illuminating Hope and Grace in the Face of Hardship with Rex Ogle: Virtual Author Talk — Wednesday, July 23, noon to 1 p.m. Watch and listen from the library’s meeting room or at home using the link provided on the library website. Ogle is the author of “Pizza Face,” “Four Eyes” and others. His talk will focus on his memoir, “Free Lunch.” For teens and adults.
Family story time on the Spit — Thursday, July 24, 10:30 a.m. Join library staff at the Boat House Pavilion for stories and a game.
One Step At A Time: Using Comics to Make Everything More Complicated — Friday, July 25, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Join Anchorage illustrator Lee Post in a fun, fast-paced comics class about how to get things done in the most complicated, weird and wild way possible.
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Turn in your Reading Trackers — Friday, July 25 by 6 p.m. Turn in your reading trackers to get entered into drawings for reading challenge prizes.
Food and Comics: An Artistic and Culinary Adventure with Lee Post — Saturday, July 26, 3-5 p.m. Join Anchorage illustrator Lee Post in a fun, fast-paced comics class about everything food. Participants will learn comics basics, talk about their favorite foods and design a simple poster with the goal of trying to sway other participants that their favorite food is the best. No prior drawing experience required, suitable for all ages. For the most fun, youth under 7 years old will need an adult to collaborate with during the activities.
We Leveled Up Party — Saturday, July 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m. All summer reading participants and their families are invited to join the end of summer reading party celebration that will include games, music, prizes, hot dogs and ice cream. Winners of the LEGO contest will be announced and prizes awarded to readers of different ages.
For more information on these activities and to register for those that require it, stop by the library circulation desk or find the schedule online at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library/summer-hpl-2025.
Homer’s Shamwari marimba band performs during the Homer Public Library’s summer reading program party in July 2024 in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by the Homer Public Library
Homer Public Library youth services librarian Cinda Nofziger (left center) poses with teen volunteers during HPL’s summer reading program party on July 27, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by the Homer Public Library