Adult Winter Reading Challenge - Open to Ages 18+
Go Play, Kids! This is for the Grown Ups!
Go Play Kids! This is for the Grown Ups!
January 12 - February 21, 2026
January 12 - February 21, 2026
Resolve to start 2026 off strong by committing to a daily habit of reading! Not sure where to start? We have weekly themed book and activity lists to keep you inspired throughout. This is a virtual-only challenge, so register through Beanstack to track your reading. You will earn badges for every 10 days of reading and completing weekly challenges, and each badge equals an entry in the raffle for a Branch prize basket. If you need to log your reading after the challenge ends, please visit a branch and ask staff to log for you. The final date to add any challenge activity will be February 25, 2026. Raffle winners will be notified on February 26, 2026.
Get Cozy & Read - You Could win a Reader Raffle Basket!
Read daily, complete engaging challenges, and thrive this winter! Each badge earned enters you in our raffle. Each Branch has its own raffle basket, and raffle winners will be notified on February 26, 2026.
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Baskets include DML swag and books!
Weekly Themes, Challenges, Reading Recommendations & More!
Weekly Themes, Challenges, Reading Recommendations & More!
Preregistration Now Open!
You can track your days on Beanstack
(app & online) until February 25, 2025.
New to Beanstack?
Beanstack is an online platform for Library Reading Programs. You can track your reading on the Beanstack app, or access your account through a browser. User accounts carry over from program to program, so if you have participated in a previous Adult Reading Challenge on Beanstack, you will not need to re-register. If you are new to Beanstack, you can register online or in the Beanstack app. If you have been using your child's account for Summer Challenge tracking, you will want to register with your own account to join the Winter Reading Challenge.
(Register & Sign Up)
(Sign In & Sign Up)
On Mobile? Get the App!
It's simple: install the app from your app store, click "Find your Library" and search for "Dayton Metro Library", then register right on the app. You'll be able to track your progress right on your device.
Week 1 - Embrace the Chill
This week, read or watch a winter thriller, try a cold-weather outdoor activity, discover recipes for frozen treats to cook, or do something as simple as reading a book with snow on the cover. Jump into your new habit of reading daily!
Week 2 - Beat the Winter Blues
This week we explore the blues, everything from preventing the winter blues to enjoying some smooth blues tunes. Explore winter self-care, make time for yourself, and continue to build your daily reading habit, even if it's just 10 minutes a day.
Week 3 - Heat Up Your Winter
Time to turn up the heat! You can read a spicy romance, check out fiber art books, plan your next DIY project, or even read a book set at the beach or somewhere warm. Foodies can crank up the spice with some help from a Library cookbook, while listening to a toasty audiobook.
Week 4 - Cabin Fever
Dive in with some chilling winter horror, stories of isolation, or cabin fever. If you’re fighting the fever yourself, now is the time to pick up a new hobby, make some time for self-care, and read some escapist fiction.
Week 5 - The Joy of Hygge
The Danes have mastered the art of Hygge, and now we can too! Focus on getting cozy this week, do some crafts, home organization, or decluttering, and snuggle into those cozy book genres.
Week 5 - 2026 Winter Olympics
Time to catch up on the Olympic Games! We suggest celebrating by reading a book set in the Italian Alps, or Milan. Check out some books about Olympic sports or athletes, or even cozy up with a friend and watch the games as they wrap up. Bellissimo!
