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Image for event: Black History Month Reading Challenge for Kids!

Black History Month Reading Challenge for Kids!

A Beanstack challenge February 1st through 28th!

2026-02-02 10:00:00 2026-02-02 17:00:00 America/New_York Black History Month Reading Challenge for Kids! For kids in Pre-K - grade 5. Read 10 books by an African American author or illustrator between February 1st -28th and earn a chance for a gift card! Maplewood Hilton Branch -

Monday, February 02
10:00am - 5:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-02-02 10:00:00 2026-02-02 17:00:00 America/New_York Black History Month Reading Challenge for Kids! For kids in Pre-K - grade 5. Read 10 books by an African American author or illustrator between February 1st -28th and earn a chance for a gift card! Maplewood Hilton Branch -

For kids in Pre-K - grade 5. Read 10 books by an African American author or illustrator between February 1st -28th and earn a chance for a gift card!

For kids in 5th grade or younger!  
Read 10 books by an African American author or illustrator between February 1st through February 28th ... and get a chance to win a gift certificate to Palmer’s Bakehouse, [words] Bookstore, or Honey and Hive!

The challenge is available through BEANSTACK, from the library website, or at Main Library and Hilton Branch.  You can read anywhere ... at home, school, or anywhere.    Just sign up on Beanstack (starting on February 1st), and log all the books by African American authors that you read during the month of February. 


HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
1.  Sign up for the Kids Black History Month Challenge challenge anytime in February.  Go to Beanstack from the Maplewood Library's website, or click here

2.  Read 10 books by an African American author or illustrator between February 1st and 28th, and record them in Beanstack.  You may read any books you like, by as many different Black authors/illustrators as you like.

3.  Increase your chance of winning by writing book reviews and putting them in Beanstack!

4.  At the end of the month, we will have a raffle drawing to select the lucky readers who have won the gift cards from Palmer’s Bakehouse, [words] Bookstore, or Honey and Hive [you get to choose]
Winners will be selected from the children who have read 10 books (or more), with extra chances going to those who write book reviews.  All winners will be emailed the week of March 9th, 2026.

AGE GROUP: | Pre-K | Elementary school age |

EVENT TYPE: | Books & Literature |

Maplewood Hilton Branch

Phone: 973-762-1688

Hours
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Mon, Jan 26 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Tue, Jan 27 12:00PM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jan 28 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Thu, Jan 29 12:00PM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jan 30 Closed
Sat, Jan 31 10:00AM to 1:00PM
Sun, Feb 01 Closed

Upcoming Events

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Mon, Feb 02, 10:00am - 5:00pm
For kids in Pre-K - grade 5. Read 10 books by an African American author or illustrator between February 1st -28th and earn a chance for a gift card!

Mon, Feb 02, 10:30am - 10:50am
Meeting Room
For ages birth to 18 months, with an adult. A lively storytime for babies with songs, stories, and rhymes.

Wed, Feb 04, 4:00pm - 4:20pm
Meeting Room
For ages 1-3, with a participating adult. Early literacy fun with stories, songs, movement and rhymes. For more details, click on the image.

Thu, Feb 05, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Program Room
Build confidence and reading skills! Bring something to read aloud, or arrive early enough to have time to pick out a book to read.

Mon, Feb 09, 10:30am - 10:50am
Meeting Room
For ages birth to 18 months, with an adult. A lively storytime for babies with songs, stories, and rhymes.

Tue, Feb 10, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Program Room
Learn how to make delicious Vegan Soul Food Bowls with Chef Afi Green. Participants will saute their own collard greens and red onions to add to cooked blackeyed peas and rice.

Wed, Feb 11, 4:00pm - 4:20pm
Meeting Room
For ages 1-3, with a participating adult. Early literacy fun with stories, songs, movement and rhymes. For more details, click on the image.

Thu, Feb 12, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Program Room
For ages 2 years & up – with a participating adult Join us for an hour of imagination and building with LEGOs and blocks. LEGO creations will be displayed in the library.

Wed, Feb 18, 4:00pm - 4:20pm
Meeting Room
For ages 1-3, with a participating adult. Early literacy fun with stories, songs, movement and rhymes. For more details, click on the image.

Mon, Feb 23, 10:30am - 10:50am
Meeting Room
For ages birth to 18 months, with an adult. A lively storytime for babies with songs, stories, and rhymes.

Mon, Feb 23, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Meeting Room
Monthly meeting of the SAP Board

Tue, Feb 24, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Meeting Room
Have questions about money, investing, retirement, or your overall financial picture? Join us for a free, informal “Ask Me Anything” session with an experienced local Financial Advisor.

Tue, Feb 24, 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Meeting Room
The monthly meeting of the Executive Board of Hilton Neighborhood Association

Wed, Feb 25, 3:45pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Explore the winter wonderland in Maplecrest Park after we read a short story about trees at the library.