Maricopa County Reads is an online summer reading program for all ages! This year’s theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library”. Pre-registration begins May 1 and you can start logging activity from June 1 to August 1, 2024. Its aim is to help maintain and improve literacy skills and emphasize the fun of reading for participants of all ages.
Please, only one account per person.
You can sign up at http://maricopacountyreads.org or at your local library starting May 1! You do need an online account to track points and earn prizes.
Create an account online at http://maricopacountyreads.org or with the help of your local library. Kids 0-11 can use the physical gameboards, available at your library, to track their participation. But they also need to have an online account to earn prizes. Your library can help enter your activity. Click here to learn more about how to track reading on your gameboard.
Earn one point for every minute you read and enter these online. You can earn additional points and unlock digital badges by completing challenges, finding secret codes, visiting a community experiences and library events. Your library can help enter your activity.
Log in to http://maricopacountyreads.org, the reading log is located in the center of your dashboard. Enter the number of minutes you have read and click “Submit.” The book title and author fields are optional and there if you want to track those things. View your list of titles by selecting “My Profile” and “Books”.
Click here to learn more about how to track reading on your gameboard.
Badges are in-game marks of achievement. You can earn badges by entering minutes into your reading log, completing reading and activity challenges, and entering secret codes given out at library events and community experiences.
A community experience is a special event created by community partners that takes place outside of the library. These events include hands-on workshops, classes, festivals, tasks, scavenger hunts, and much more. These special events provide kids with the experiential knowledge that is a key component of literacy.
To browse for community experiences, from your account dashboard go to the “Events” tab (calendar icon) and select the “Community Experiences” link. You can search by program type or location or use a keyword. The description of the community experience will pop-up. You can also find a list of local community experiences at your library. When you visit one of our community partners for an experience, you will receive a secret code. Type the secret code into your account to receive bonus points and a special badge!
From your account, select “Click Here to Customize Your Avatar.” Customize your avatar by selecting hair, facial features, clothing, etc. When you are happy with your changes click “Save Avatar” and “Return to Dashboard.” Be on the lookout for new avatar accessories throughout the summer reading program. Special accessories will be unlocked throughout the summer.
To earn prizes, you must create an account and log your activity online at maricopacountyreads.org. Earn points by reading, completing challenges and finding secret codes. You will earn prizes at 500, 750, and 1,000 points (other point milestones may vary by library). Pick up prizes from your library as you play. No need to wait until the end of the program!
500 points (while supplies last):
750 points:
1,000 points: Free book for all ages (redeemed through the online bookstore, link sent through in-game mail)
Challenge yourself to read and log 20 minutes of reading every day for a chance to win awesome weekly drawing prizes! Prize drawings are held throughout the Summer Reading Program. Prizes, drawing criteria, and frequency of drawings may vary by library. A valid phone number or email address may be required to win a prize. Please contact your local library for more information about available prizes these may vary.
You can pick up your food prize and AZ State Parks Pass at your library. The last day to pick up these prizes is September 15. A link will be provided in an in-game message to redeem your Phoenix Mercury tickets, this will take you to the website where you can pick your game and redeem your tickets.
Free books are awarded at 1,000 points—the instructions on how to redeem your free book will be sent in a message in your in-game mailbox. Select from titles in all age categories. Once you place your order it will take a few weeks for your book to ship and arrive at your library. Books ship directly to your library, pick them up throughout the summer! The last day to order is August 15, 2024. Please send an in-game message if you have any difficulty.
Prize book selection is based on availability of titles from the publisher. Participants whose title has been backordered or whose publication date has been moved will get a new book code to select a different title.
Please allow 3-5 business days for your book order to process and to update in your account, please allow at least 3 business days before reaching out about your order. Prize books are packed and shipped off site so shipping timelines will vary depending on title availability, staffing, and volume of orders. Your shipment tracker will update when your book order is processed, when it ships, and when it is ready for pick up.
When your order has been processed a shipment tracker will appear on your dashboard. This will update when your book has shipped and when it is ready for pick up. You will also receive an email when it is ready, if you wish to receive this notification please provide a current email address at registration.
Yes! If you would like to donate your book to a child, simply click on the 'Donate your book' option on your 'My Profile' page. Donated books will go to organizations that support youth in your community.
You can access book codes from an individual, family or group's account. To locate your family account:
Family accounts allow one person to manage multiple accounts using a single username and password. Families larger than 15 can upgrade their account to a 'Group' Account. To create a family account, the head of family (the individual that will manage the accounts) must:
To add an individual username/password:
You can apply minutes read and secret codes to multiple family accounts at once. To add minutes read:
To add a secret code to multiple accounts:
Organizations can create one account and add participants. To join as a group, one individual signs up and under 'My Profile' selects family. Add participants until your 'family' grows to 16. The system will prompt you to upgrade to a 'Group'. Groups like summer camps, childcare centers, group homes, and other organizations can easily manage multiple participant accounts. There is no limit to the number of members in a group account.
Secret codes (like the one found at the bottom of this FAQ) can be found at your library, given out at library events and community experiences, as well as on social media. To check out the events happening near you, click the “Events” tab on your dashboard. If you don’t see a secret code posted at a library event, please ask library staff. Enter your secret code in the Secret Code box on your dashboard or apply a secret code to multiple family members from the “Family” page.
Once you reach 1,000 points there is still more to do! You will continue to be eligible for prize drawings throughout the program, so don't stop now. You can also continue to complete challenges and enter secret codes by attending programs or community experiences. Reading beyond 1,000 minutes will help us reach our countywide goal of reading 90,000,000 minutes! Feel free to set a higher goal, challenge yourself to reach 2,000 points or more!
The library will never share your personal information—privacy and confidentiality are essential to the library and the Summer Reading Program. We will only use your name and contact info to alert you about important summer reading updates.
Once you are logged in, click the Mail icon at the top of the screen. Click “Send Mail” to ask your question.