A Picture Paints a Thousand Words! 

For readers, a book represents a transformative piece of art that uses the written language to paint a story. So, the 2025 Winter Reading Challenge celebrates the art of reading with the theme, Works of Art.  

Whether you enjoy the visual arts, the musical art form, the act of creating, or people’s personal experience with the art of living, we have something waiting for you in the stacks!  

The Winter Reading Challenge is an opportunity for adults (ages 18+) to celebrate leisure reading and earn an incentive—the limited-edition 2025 Winter Reading Challenge mug—by reading ANY five books in two months. (And we do mean ANY five books! Not into art? You can still celebrate the art of reading by diving into any five books that interest you!  

And new this year, the Winter Reading Challenge will be open to kids and teens as well! Youth 17 and under can read ANY five books to earn a small prize.

Make sure to mark January 2-March 15 on your calendar, and prepare to introduce some new works of art into your reading life.  

Want to enhance your reading experience?  

Join a branch book group, or check out an online book discussion. The Library will also be offering a variety of programming for those either wanting to create art or just those interested in learning more about the arts and artists throughout history. 

BROWSE PROGRAMS
 

1. Adult readers (18+) may join online by signing up for a Beanstack account or picking up information at any MCPL location.
2. Check out the Suggested Readings lists (see below) for recommendations. These titles have been selected by Library staff to provide a quality reading experience. 
3. Read any five books of your choosing between January 2 and March 15, 2025. Titles do not have to be included on the Suggested Readings list or within the WRC theme. 
4. List those five books on the online Reading Log beginning January 2 or pick up a paper log at any branch to track your progress. Once you have completed the Challenge, return the log to Library staff at any branch by March 15. 
5. Participate in discussions and programs hosted by MCPL staff on social media and at our programs. 
6. After you complete the Challenge and have logged your books online or turned in your log to your branch, claim your mug* at any branch while supplies last. Kids and teens (17 and under) will also receive a prize while supplies last.

If you post online about what you are reading, use #mcplwinterread to stay connected! 

*Due to manufacturing and shipping delays with our current supplier, Mid-Continent Public Library’s custom 2025 Winter Reading Challenge mugs are temporarily unavailable for pickup. Our hope is to have all the complimentary mugs in stock by the end of March for participants to pick up at their local branch, and we will update customers as soon as they arrive. We apologize for the inconvenience.