Milwaukee City Wire

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) families can participate in the summer reading program, Passport to Summer Reading, by picking up a free children’s book at participating Milwaukee businesses and festivals. The program begins on June 19 and continues into August.

The first 25 families to arrive at the designated locations during the specified times will receive a free picture book with a QR code on the inside cover. When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code links to a read-aloud video by MPS academic coach Dannette Justus from the YouTube reading show “Just Us and Books.”

The initiative aims to keep children engaged over the summer and counteract "summer slide," where students may lose some of their academic progress from the school year. Families can enjoy stories together, explore local businesses or events, and discuss both to reinforce learning.

One book will be given out per family. Students who collect six or more books will be entered into a drawing for prizes such as a bean bag chair and cubby bins for creating a home book nook. MPS students can pick up their passports at any participating location and have them stamped to document their visits.

The schedule for Passport to Summer Reading is as follows:

- **June 19** — 12:00-3:00 p.m.: "Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth," by Alice Faye Duncan at Juneteenth Celebration, N. King Drive between W. Burleigh and W. Center streets.

- **July 2** — 12:00-3:00 p.m.: "War at the Ice Cream Store: Mustachio Pistachio vs. Bully Vanilli," by Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson at Tastee Twist, 2378 N. Teutonia Ave.

- **July 5** — 12:00-3:00 p.m.: "When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left," by Marc Colagiovanni at Summerfest, 200 N. Harbor Dr.

- **July 13** — 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: "A Dress with Pockets," by Lily Murray at JazzyRaé Jewels & Accessories, 4307 W. Vliet St.

- **July 17** — 12:00-3:00 p.m.: "Darryl’s Dream," by Darryl “DMC” McDaniels at Milwaukee Hip-Hop Museum, 2222 N. 19th St.

- **July 23** —11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: "Extra Yarn," by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen at J. Riley Creative crochet boutique, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., in Sherman Phoenix Marketplace

- **August 2** —11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut," by Derrick Barnes at Gee’s Clippers, 2200 N. King Dr.

- **August 6**—11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: “Let’s Pop, Pop, Popcorn!” by Cynthia Schumerth or “Pop! The Story of Otto, the Kernel Who Didn’t Pop,” by Karen Kilpatrick and Germán Blanco at Goody Gourmet, 6369 N. Green Bay Ave.