Grand Prairie Libraries kick off 2026 Summer Reading Club with 1980s "Reading Is Totally Rad" theme

More than 500 children, teens and adults attended the launch of Grand Prairie’s 2026 Summer Reading Club at the city’s main library, city presenters said. The program runs at all three Grand Prairie Library locations through Aug. 8, and organizers billed this year’s theme as a throwback: "Reading Is Totally Rad," drawing on 1980s music, fashion and pop-culture characters to engage families.

A library presenter said the program mixes themed activities with digital convenience. "Our theme this year is reading is totally rad and we are throwing it back to the eighties," the presenter said, and staff encouraged participants to use the Beanstack app to register and track reading. Library staff explained how Beanstack works: create an account with Grand Prairie Public Library, select a challenge, join it and log reading time in the app.

Organizers described a simple reward structure to motivate participants: after logging five hours of reading, children can receive a free book, select a prize from a treasure box or claim a coupon; rewards are also available for teens and adults. City staff framed the program as both educational and social: "We wanna make sure that kids are not only getting educational experiences during the summer, but we also want them to have those social interactions," a library presenter said.

For full program details and schedules, staff directed readers to gptx.org/library.