On your bookmarks … Get set … Go! The Seattle Public Library and Seattle Arts & Lectures launched the 10th annual Book Bingo this week. This summerlong reading program encourages adults and teens to read widely just for the joy of it and to talk about books with friends, family, and neighbors.
2024 marks the first year that Seattle Public Libteens have their own bingo card to participate in the popular reading challenge. Between now and September 3, Book Bingo encourages readers to read (or listen to) books from a variety of categories. Every time you finish a book, mark off a spot on your Book Bingo card. Challenge yourself, your teen, and younger children to complete a row, column, or diagonal line on your card for a bingo or complete all 24 squares for blackout. A Spanish-language version of the adult card, LoterĆa de Lectura, is also available.
A popular summertime program
Each player must submit their Bingo card by Tuesday, Sept. 3, to enter a prize drawing.
āItās been amazing to see Book Bingo grow each year in popularity,ā Misha Stone, Reader Services librarian at The Seattle Public Library, said in a release announcing the start of the event. āFans tell us that playing Book Bingo opens them to new genres, authors, and topics, and leads to all kinds of reading connections.ā
Stone noted that Book Bingo categories are designed to be flexible, accommodating a wide variety of both fiction and nonfiction. Examples of squares in Adult Book Bingo include āFriendship,ā āRetelling,ā āCozy,ā and āBIPOC Romance.ā It’s up to players to choose a book in the category of the square they hope to fill.
Categories for youth
Teen Book Bingo includes reading categories designed for middle grade and young adult readers, including āChildhood Favorite,ā āNom Nom Nom (food/cooking)ā and āShares Your Identity.ā Two squares encourage experiences (āTry a New Hobby or Activityā and āVisit a Libraryā).
āWe’re really excited about getting youth readers engaging with books for both learning and entertainment,ā said teen librarian Eliza Summerlin. āHave some fun! Try something new!”

Design by Sabella Flagg
Something to do with your teen
Encourage your teen to participate by joining up with them and agreeing on a daily or other regular reading time where you sit together and flip pages. Some books may fit into both adult and teen categories. Consider reading the same book and sitting down to discuss it. How did it impact each of you? What was the author trying to impart in the storyāa moral, a feeling, an observation about society? Consider reading the synopsis of books your teen chooses if they don’t really jibe with an adult category. That way, you are in the know when it’s time to discuss.
All kinds of book formats count for adult and teen Book Bingo, including young adult, graphic novels, and audiobooks. Younger kids should focus on the printed word.
āSAL is so delighted to be partnering with SPL for the tenth year of building community through reading,ā said Alison Stagner, Director of Events & Outreach for SAL. āIn celebration, SAL is hosting our first-ever in-person Book Bingo gatheringĀ at the Volunteer Park Amphitheater on Saturday, August 3, for a silent reading party and picnic, so mark your calendars.ā
How to get started
Download an Adult, Teen or Kids Book Bingo card in English at spl.org/BookBingo orĀ lectures.org/book-bingo; Or, download a āLoteria de Lecturaā card in Spanish at spl.org/Loteria. Book Bingo cards for adults, teens, are also available at any SPL library location. Seattle Arts & Lectures also offers a Kids Book Bingo card for middle-grade and younger readers, which you can also download at lectures.org/book-bingo.
Find book ideas
Need book ideas? Find reading lists for many bingo squares atĀ spl.org/BookBingo. You can also check displays and talk with library staff at your library, find staff picks and book lists atĀ spl.org, request a personalized book list atĀ spl.org/YourNext5Ā or email/chat with the Library atĀ www.spl.org/Ask.
You may also want to check out Peak Picks, the Libraryās no-holds, no-wait collection of popular titles. You can check these book out immediately and the list is another great source of book ideas.
Follow or post with the hashtag #BookBingoNW2024 onĀ Twitter,Ā Instagram, and Facebook to get ideas from fellow readers and share your progress.
How to submit your card for possible prizes
After youāve filled the front and back of your bingo card, you shave until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3,Ā to be entered for prize drawings. Hereās how to submit your card:
- Drop offĀ our card (or a copy) at any locationĀ of The Seattle Public Library.
- Complete the submission form at spl.org/BookBingo orĀ spl.org/Loteria.
Important note:Ā Although the Library and Seattle Arts & Lectures encourage Book Bingo and LoterĆa players to share their progress on social media,Ā you canĀ no longer submit your cardĀ through social media.
Adult Book Bingo and LoterĆa are for readers ages 18 and up, and Teen Book Bingo is for middle-grade and young-adult readers. You are only allowed to enter once. Blackout card entrants will beĀ entered in a drawing for one of three grand prizes, including a subscription to the 2024/25 SAL series of your choice. Both blackout and bingo entrants for Teen and Adult Book Bingo will be entered to win a gift card from one of Seattleās independent bookstores thanks to a generous donation from The Friends of The Seattle Public Library.
Entrants for Loteria will be entered to win gift cards from Fred Meyer ($50 for bingo and $100 for blackout).
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