Unearth a Story - 2026 Summer Reading Program

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June 13 - August 1, 2026

The Wilson County Public Library Summer Reading Program, Unearth A Story, will take place June 13 - August 1, 2026. This year's theme digs deep to explore paleontology, archaeology, and more! Staff from all library locations have prepared a variety of programs and reading incentives for children, teens, and adults!

Register and track your progress at Readsquared! (Start June 13)

Exciting incentives and prizes will be awarded for participation in the program and for completed reading logs.

Disentierra una historia

UPCOMING SUMMER READING EVENTS

(Click HERE to see full event calendar)

SUMMER READING KICKOFF CELEBRATION

Join us Saturday, June 13, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Main Library for a kickoff event of Jurassic proportions, featuring arts, crafts, fairy hair, balloon animals, a Charlie Cart cooking demo, community organizations, and MORE!

FAMILY MOVIES AT THE MAIN LIBRARY

Fridays at 10:00 a.m. Main Library
All ages. Enjoy a free movie and free refreshments for the whole family! No registration required for individuals or small groups. Large groups please email gbaillie@wilsoncountync.gov or call 252-237-5355 ext. 5050 to arrange visit. Click a link below to watch the trailer and get more information about the movie.

June 19: Kung Fu Panda 4 (PG, 94 minutes)

June 26: IF (PG, 104 minutes)

July 3: No movie

July 10: Elio (PG, 99 minutes)

July 17: The Bad Guys 2 (PG, 104 minutes)

July 24: Zootopia 2 (PG, 108 minutes)

July 31: The Spongebob Movie: Search for Squarepants

Main Library Youth Programs

Join us at the Main Library Youth Services department for these children's programs!

Music and Movement Storytime
Mondays, June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27; 10:30 a.m.
Youth Services Storytime Area
Ages 0-5. Join us for a dino-mite in-person storytime led by library staff, where each week we’ll stomp into a new prehistoric theme with music, songs, and roaring dance moves!

Jurassic Fine Art Fridays
Fridays, June 5, 12, 19, 26, July 10, 17, 24, 31; 1:00 p.m.
Youth Services
Ages 0-12. Stomp into a dino-sized world of process art, where the focus is on the fun of creating—not perfection! This summer, Fine Art Fridays will feature a product art project alongside the process art experience, giving artists the chance to explore different materials and creative techniques while building motor skills, sparking imagination, and letting their creativity roar in this Jurassic playground!

Unearth a Recipe
Tuesdays, June 16, 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21; 1:00 p.m.
Main Library Assembly Room
Ages 5 and up. Join us for a dino-mite six-week adventure where explorers stomp through the five food groups with hands-on cooking and prehistoric-sized bites. Each week uncovers a new “food fossil,” leading up to a roaring finale where we will build a balanced plate fit for a hungry dinosaur!

STEAM KIT STORYTIMES

Stop by any library branch this summer for our weekly Summer Reading storytimes with STEAM crafts. Each program is offered at a different branch every week: click an entry below to learn more about the program, dates, and locations.

Craft kits are designed for school-age children and may contain small parts or materials not suitable for children under age 5; adult supervision recommended.

Supplies are limited: if you are bringing a group, please contact the branch library in advance.

Dinosaurs You Can't Resist

Dinosaur Pyramid

A pyramid constructed of chopsticks and paper, with a dinosaur drawn on it and a plastic toy dinosaur standing in front of it.

Build a mini pyramid with bamboo sticks and rubber bands while learning about the majestic dinosaurs that lived long before one of our world's oldest wonders!

DATES AND LOCATIONS

East Branch: 3:00 PM Tuesday, June 16
Elm City Branch: 3:00 PM Wednesday, June 24
Lucama Branch 3:00 PM Thursday, July 9
Stantonsburg Branch 3:30 PM Friday, July 17
Main Library: 6:00 PM Tuesday, July 21
Black Creek Branch: 3:00 PM Monday, July 27

Dinosaur Family Fingerprints

A sheet of paper covered with small colorful dinosaurs made by drawing heads and legs on ink fingerprints

Children and their caregivers/families work together to create a keepsake craft they will treasure forever. They will make a family of dinosaurs using only their own fingerprints as the dinosaur bodies, then decorating however they like.

DATES AND LOCATIONS

Elm City Branch: 3:00 PM Wednesday, June 17
Lucama Branch 3:00 PM Thursday, June 25
Stantonsburg Branch 3:30 PM Friday, July 10
Main Library: 6:00 PM Tuesday, July 14
Black Creek Branch: 3:00 PM Monday, July 20
East Branch: 3:00 PM Tuesday, July 28

Pasta Paleontology

A dinosaur skeleton made by gluing pasta shapes onto paper

Get ready for a dino-mite time in when creativity meets prehistoric fun. Each participant will receive a pasta assortment (linguine, spaghetti, and elbow macaroni), a glue tube, and a dinosaur skeleton outline to design their very own pasta T-Rex masterpiece. Feel free to get creative by adding extras like trees, rocks, clouds, and more! The fun doesn’t stop there—enjoy dinosaur fact sheets, a dino-themed maze, and plenty of dino jokes to keep everyone smiling.

DATES AND LOCATIONS

Lucama Branch 3:00 PM Thursday, June 18
Stantonsburg Branch 3:30 PM Friday, June 26
Main Library: 6:00 PM Tuesday, July 7
Black Creek Branch: 3:00 PM Monday, July 13
East Branch: 3:00 PM Tuesday, July 21
Elm City Branch: 3:00 PM Wednesday, July 29

Fossil Creations

A paper dinosaur standing next to several small clay blobs that have dinosaur-shaped hollows pressed into them

This kit includes a dinosaur that can be colored and cut out, allowing it to stand on its own. The kit comes with instructions for creating the fossils, a packet of Model Magic Clay, a plastic dinosaur skeleton toy, markers, and a coloring sheet featuring the dinosaur.

DATES AND LOCATIONS

Main Library: 6:00 PM Tuesday, June 16
Black Creek Branch: 3:00 PM Monday, June 22
East Branch: 3:00 PM Tuesday, July 7
Elm City Branch: 3:00 PM Wednesday, July 15
Lucama Branch 3:00 PM Thursday, July 23
Stantonsburg Branch 3:30 PM Friday, July 31

Pinch Pottery

Unearth A Story Tween Summer Programs

All events are Wednesdays, 6pm-7pm unless otherwise noted

June 3 - Tween Book Club

June 10 - Dinosaur Bookmarks

June 17 - Dino Suncatchers

June 24 - Popsicle Stick Flags

July 8 - Dinosaur Pencil Holders

Saturday, July 11 3pm-5pm - Dino Gardens

July 15 - Dinosaur Trinket Dishes

July 22 - Summer Reading Kits

July 29 - Painted Pet Rocks

MAIN LIBRARY TEEN PROGRAMS

Unearth adventure this summer at the library! Explore the worlds of dinosaurs, paleontology, and archaeology through hands-on activities, fossil fun, crafts, and exciting discoveries as we dig into the past together.

Pet Rocks
Monday, June 8
Adopt and decorate your own low-maintenance pet rock with plenty of personality and prehistoric flair!

Build a Dino Lab
Monday, June 15
Design and build your very own imaginative dinosaur creation using fun craft materials and dino-inspired prompts.

Dino Soap Bars
Monday, June 22
Make colorful soap bars with a surprise dinosaur hidden inside for a craft that’s both fun and useful.

Patriotic Perler Beads
Monday, June 29
Create colorful Perler bead designs in patriotic shades or any rainbow combination you can imagine.

Dino Trinket Dish
Monday, July 6
Craft a prehistoric-themed trinket dish perfect for holding jewelry, keys, and tiny treasures.

Dino Gardens
Saturday, July 11, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Build a miniature prehistoric garden filled with plants and dinosaur decorations for your own tiny Jurassic world.
*Registration required.

Plantersaurus
Monday, July 13
Transform a dinosaur figure into a quirky planter that’s equal parts crafty and creative.

Keepsake Coasters
Monday, July 20
Turn favorite memories, photos, or recipes into custom coasters you can treasure or gift.

Dino Dig: Fossils & Paleontology Challenge
Monday, July 27
Create and excavate your own fossils while testing your paleontology skills in a hands-on dino dig.

Stone Stories: Petroglyphs
Monday, August 3
Explore ancient storytelling through symbols as you design your own petroglyph-inspired artwork.

For more information about teen programs or to register as requested, contact Mary Taylor, Young Adult Librarian, at mtaylor@wilsoncountync.gov or 252-237-5355 ext. 5073. Most programs are on Mondays from 5-6:30pm in the Main Library Conference Room, unless otherwise noted.

We hope you will join us this summer at the library for Unearth A Story! Questions? Contact us at 252-237-5355.

Programs are made possible in part thanks to these community partners.

Library of North Carolina logo

Carolina Comfort Air

Wilson Warbirds

Whirligig Popcorn Shoppe