Attention parents, teens and kids!Seattle Public Library (SPL), King County Library System and Seattle Arts & Lectures (SAL) invites you to grab a stack of books, a group of friends and start turning pages — not just for fun, but for prizes as well. SPL and SAL launched their annual Book Bingo event this week, a summer reading program that encourages teens and adults to read for pleasure and to talk about books with friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Book Bingo runs though September 2, 2025 at 6 p.m. Between now and then, participants read (or listen to) books from a wide variety of categories and keep track of the ones they’ve completed on a special Book Bingo card. Five completed reads completes one row on the Bingo card. A complete card — available in English and Spanish —means you’ve gotten through 25 books. Once your card is complete, submit it by Sept. 2 for a chance to win.
There are separate Bingo cards for kids, teens, and adults, available on the Seattle Arts & Lectures Summer Book Bingo webpage. Adult Book Bingo is for players 18 and older, Teens is for 12-17, and Kids Book Bingo is for players under 12. Any type of reading counts, including audiobooks.
Adult Book Bingo card. (Image courtesy SPL)
Bingo book categories
Each square on the Book Bingo card presents a reading challenge in a certain category. The 2025 Summer Book Bingo card (Adult edition) includes 24 categories — ranging from “Intergenerational Friendship” to “Grief” to “Monsters.”
The Teen card has 25 squares, and includes categories such as “DNF = Did Not Finish,” “Face Your Fears,” and “Published in Your Birth Year.” For Kids, categories include “A Biography of Someone You Admire” and “Read in Pajamas.” Categories are designed to be flexible.
Teen Book Bingo card. (Image courtesy SPL)
How it works
- Download the card.
- Explore the categories and choose your books. And, of course, this is where Seattle Public Library comes in: They have lots of suggestions for books to match the categories.
- Read and report the titles and authors of completed book in the Bingo boxes that satisfy each requirement. “Winning” can be getting either a bingo or a blackout.
“Book Bingo is more than just a reading challenge — it’s a celebration of curiosity, connection, and the quirky ways King County loves to read,” said KCLS Executive Director Heidi Daniel. “We’re excited to bring readers from across King County into the mix for the first time, and we’re hoping to make this the biggest year for Book Bingo yet!”
Kids Book Bingo card. (Image courtesy SPL)
How to submit your complete card
Drop off your card (or a copy) at any location at any location of The Seattle Public Library or the King County Library System, or by completing the submission form at www.spl.org/BookBingo or www.kcls.org/BookBingo. Entries must be received by Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.
This is also where Seattle Public Library comes in: They have lots of suggestions for books to match the categories.
If you turn in a bingo card with enough squares for bingo (completed in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line), you’ll be entered into a drawing for a commemorative tote bag. If you complete all 24 squares for blackout, you’ll be entered in a drawing for one of three grand prizes per library system, including a “Create Your Own Series” subscription to SAL’s 2025/26 Season.
Other important details
Book titles may be used only once per card. The event is limited to one entry per person. Entries must be received by 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 5, 20213. Don’t submit a card more than one time or in more than one way.
