This program provides all caregivers (early childhood professionals and parents) with books, guided questions, and expanded learning resources to support literacy development, enhance relationships, and to make a connection with your local library.
Each year the theme changes, but the imagination guides always include the following:
- Conversation Starters
- Creative Arts
- Infant & Toddlers
- Nature
- STEM Connection
- Story Extensions

2023 Summer Reading Program All Together Now
Build relationship skills needed each and every day with each and every interaction.
In our world today, emotional intelligence is vital to building relationships in both early childhood and adulthood. This year's STEM Imagination Guides focus on topics such as friendship, unity, and diversity to help children begin to build the skills needed each and every day with each and every interaction. The reading guides align with Nebraska’s Nebraska's Early Learning Guideline domains.
The activities engage the children. The connection between the activities and the book content is easy to grasp. These guides encourage play and the children are eager to participate.
2023 Library Commission Theme: All Together Now
Looking for engagement for school-aged children in your care? This program is available to youth development and early childhood professionals, afterschool clubs, summer school and camps, libraries, and parents. Resources provide engaging learning opportunities to spark an interest in STEM concepts and 4-H.
4-H 2023 Reading Connection Resources
- Head: Heading Into This Together
- Heart: I Am Enough
- Hands: Gumball Machine/Marshmallow Catapult
- Health: An Apple a Day
Archived 4-H Summer Reading Connection Resources
No endorsement of products or services by 4-H is intended or implied.
Want to request this program? Please send an e-mail to Jennifer Hansen.


Jackie Steffen
Nebraska Extension in Cedar County
Early Childhood
jsteffen2@unl.edu

Sarah Roberts
Nebraska Extension in Dixon County
Early Childhood
sarah.roberts@unl.edu

Ingrid Lindal
Nebraska Extension in Saline County
Early Childhood
ilindalchavarria2@unl.edu