The third NLS Summer Reading Program will run Monday, June 16, through Friday, August 15, 2025. Stay tuned for new information populating this page in the days to come, such as links to register for online events, as well as links to summer reading programs hosted by your network library featuring national and local events.
Summer Reading Program Kickoff
Monday, June 16, 1 to 2 p.m. eastern time
Register for the Kickoff event with Mac Barnett now!
Join author Mac Barnett for this live Summer Reading Program kickoff event with a reading of his book “Extra Yarn (DB127239),” available from NLS in audio. This year’s theme is “Color Our World”—and in addition to this amazing storyteller, we will have more information on how you can join us all summer long. So get ready to dive into summer reading and color our world with books! And learn more about Mac Barnett now.
Master Gardener Roger Erpelding
Monday, June 23, 4 to 5 p.m. eastern time
Register for the Gardening event Roger Erpelding now!
Summer is a great time to get your garden growing. Master Gardener Roger Erpelding is here to help you do just that! Roger is a patron of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled and will provide tips and tricks for sighted and blind gardeners alike. This session will have time for questions, and we’ll have a list of Roger’s favorite gardening books from the NLS collection. Be sure to check out Roger’s recorded presentations about gardening, “Gardening: In the Beginning” and “How Your Garden Grows,” both full of information on how to color your world with plants! Learn more about Roger Erpelding here. Links for these two recorded presentations will be available soon. In the meantime, check out Roger’s suggested reading list:
“Accessible Gardening for People with Physical Disabilities: A Guide to Methods, Tools, and Plants (DB52241)” by Janeen Adil
“All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space! (DB69864)” by Mel Bartholomew
“The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden (BR21396)” by Kim Flottum
“A Backyard Vegetable Garden for Kids (DB68370)” by Amie J. Leavitt
“Beginners Guide to Growing Great Vegetables (BR24303)” by Lorene Edwards Forkner
Storyteller Donna Washington
Thursday, June 26, 4 to 5 p.m. eastern time
Register for the Storytelling event with Donna Washington now!
This one’s for the kids—or kids at heart. Donna Washington will lead an inclusive storytelling hour for children, engaging with participants in a fun and accessible way. Kids will find fun and inspiration in this hour of creativity and be encouraged to color their world with summer reading. Learn more about Donna Washington now.
Master Chef Christine Ha
Monday, July 14, 7 to 8 p.m. eastern time
Register for the Master Chef event with Christine Ha now!
When Christine Ha won the third season of MasterChef, she was the first blind contestant on the show! Join us for a night of conversation about cooking, reading, and everything in between. Christine will tell us her story and maybe even share a recipe or two. Check out her books “Recipes from My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food from the Winner of MasterChef Season 3 (DB76676)” in audio and “Recipes from My Home (BR20085)” in braille. Learn more about Christine Ha here.
Musician Jono Manson
Thursday, July 24, 7 to 8 p.m. eastern time
Register for the Music event with Jono Manson now!
Color your world with music! Jono Manson has been playing his brand of music for decades, collaborating and touring with some of the biggest names in the business. Join us for a lighthearted interview that captures some of Jono’s stories and memories, as well as what he’s got planned for his next project. Learn more about Jono Manson here.
Take a virtual tour of the Library of Congress
Here’s one highlight from the 2024 Summer Reading Program that you can still enjoy: a virtual tour of the historic Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress!
The Thomas Jefferson Building is the oldest and grandest of the three buildings that make up the Library of Congress campus on Capitol Hill. You can discover artwork and architecture that connect to knowledge and creativity, past and present, through our audio tour of this magnificent building.
Anyone can enjoy the tour through the player below. If you’re an NLS patron with BARD, you can download this Audio Described Tour of the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress (DB121189), or you can request a digital cartridge from your local NLS library. (All references to navigation refer only to the talking book and do not apply to the audio as played through the player below.)