Read Books, Win Prizes
Delve into books both new and familiar as part of the Des Moines Public Library Reading Challenge, and win fun prizes along the way!
All you have to do is read a book from 12 of our 18 selected genre categories over 12 months. You can read books in any order, and we’ll even offer expert librarian reading suggestions. In addition to monthly prizes and a grand prize at the end of the year, anyone who completes the challenge will receive a special button when they do so!
And if you’re a fast reader, keep an eye open for special bonus categories each month, too!
To register, you'll need to sign up for a Beanstack account, which takes just seconds.
When you're logged in, you'll be able to view and complete the 2023 DMPL Reading Challenge.
Bonus Categories
Need an extra challenge? At the beginning of every month we will announce a bonus category in our private Reading Challenge Facebook group, our Goodreads Group, on our social media channels, and right here on our website. Complete all 12 bonus categories before the end of the year to get an exclusive piece of library swag fit for a super reader.
The bonus categories, and reading suggestions for those categories will live here on this page. You do not need to complete the bonus category in the month it is announced, but you do need to complete all 12 bonus categories before the end of 2023 to get the special swag.
Be sure to track your progress in the bonus categories using our special Bonus Category Tracker on Beanstack!
December: A book set in winter.
Previous Months:
November: A book by an indigenous author.
October: A book that has been challenged or banned.
September: A book by a Latinx Author.
August: Retellings — read a retelling of a classic book, fairytale, or legend.
July: Disability Pride Month—A book with a main character with a disability or written by an author with a disability or who is neurodivergent.
June - A book recommended by a friend
May - Nature Books
April - It's National Poetry Month, so check out a poetry collection!
March - A book with an Iowa connection
February— A Love Story
- 2023 AViD Author
- Literary Classic
- Recommendation from a Book Chat librarian
- Book in translation
- Memoir or autobiography by someone you admire
- Science fiction or fantasy novel