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Beanstack Challenges for All Ages

General Kids Teens

All-Ages Challenges

Every person has a rich history and unique stories to tell — dive deeper into your own this winter! Explore topics like family, history, and identity while reading Where We Come From, a poetic picture book for all ages written by John Coy, Shannon Gibney, Sun Yung Shin, and Diane Wilson and illustrated by Dion MBD. Log your reading minutes and reflect on your own story — all while earning badges on your virtual bingo card! From Jan. 1-31, Haverhill Public Library is participating in “Where We Come From,” a reading challenge sponsored by Lerner.

We challenge our community to read and log at least 300 minutes during the challenge. For logging your minutes read and completing fun activities, you will earn badges that feature some of the beautiful artwork from the book itself. And don’t forget to earn bingo!

The top performing libraries and schools will earn special prizes sponsored by Lerner, including special shout outs and even signed copies of the book. Happy reading!


Adult Challenges


Featured 2024 Challenges

Every year, the Massachusetts Center for the Book challenges residents all across the state to engage in reading that stretches their interests and knowledge. This year, for the first time, Haverhill Public Library is participating in the 2024 Reading Challenge.

Each month features a different reading prompt to help you explore new books, topics, and genres. Sign up for our Beanstack challenge to keep track of what you read and write reviews to earn badges. No prizes are associated with our challenge, it’s all for the love of reading! If you do want to be entered for prizes though, you can also log your activity directly with the Massachusetts Center for the Book on their website. To register for our Beanstack Challenge, go to our website or click the button below.


Reading can take you anywhere! Journey to faraway lands, experience new perspectives, or explore your own inner world all from the comfort of your favorite reading nook! Log your reading throughout the year to earn badges. Adventure awaits! This challenge is open to all ages.


The Haverhill Public Library was established in 1873 in an agreement between wealthy industrialist E.J.M. Hale and the City of Haverhill. The original library building opened on November 18, 1875.

Celebrate 150 years of the Haverhill Public Library by completing 15 challenges that will take you through the history of HPL and where we are now! Special thanks to our special collections room and the Senter Digital Archive for the pictures that have become our badges!


Kids Challenges



The idea is simple, the rewards are priceless! Help your child prepare for one of life’s biggest milestones: KINDERGARTEN The goal is to read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books!) before your little one starts kindergarten. Were you in the middle of 1,000 books before the library suspended services in March 2020? E-mail your child’s name to kids@haverhillpl.org with the subject line “1,000 Books” and we will add the books you logged on paper into your Beanstack account!


Teen Challenges


The goal of this challenge is for high school students to read 100 books before graduation! You can join at any time during your high school career. Participants are encouraged to read whatever they want, but it’s also good to try new things as well! Try a genre you don’t usually go for, read some non-fiction, listen to an audiobook, etc.
Reach your 50 book goal and receive a swag bag from the library.
Reach your 100 book goal and receive a gift card to Barnes & Noble!


Read Woke is a movement. It is a feeling. It is a style. It is a form of education. It is a call to action; it is our right as lifelong learners. It means arming yourself with knowledge in order to better protect your rights. Knowledge is power and no one can take it away. It means learning about others so that you can treat people with the respect and dignity that they deserve no matter their religion, race, creed, or color.

I concluded that a Woke Book must:

• Challenge a social norm • Give voice to the voiceless • Provide information about a group that has been disenfranchised • Seek to challenge the status quo • Have a protagonist from an underrepresented or oppressed group”

– Cicely Lewis, creator of Read Woke

Discover diverse books, log activities, and READ WOKE.