Wauwatosa Summer Reading Program (Ages 2-12)

Little Joy Summer Reading Program

A self-paced, summer reading program that turns Tosa into a citywide reading party from June 7 through August 30, 2026.

FREE for members | $20 for non-members

Join the Summer Reading Program
Free
Always, no sign-up fee
Ages 0-12 mo
Babies plus caregiver
Mondays
9:15am, weather permitting
Walk + cafe
Stroller, then sit and connect
Summer Reading Program

What is the Little Joy Summer Reading Program?

Little Joy is the summer reading program Wauwatosa families turn into a season. Powered by Tosa's vibrant small-business community and run from Little Village Play Cafe & Joy Ice Cream, it's a self-paced reading challenge for kids ages 2 through 12 that runs from June 7 to August 30, 2026.

Sign up online, pick up your welcome bag at the Kick-Off Block Party at Joy Ice Cream on Sunday, June 7, and read all summer at your own pace.

  • Every reading milestone unlocks a prize at a participating Tosa business.
  • Every 1,000 minutes earns a free book.
  • The whole thing wraps with an End-of-Summer Block Party at Little Village on Sunday, August 30.

Little Joy is a summer reading program in Wauwatosa, made by neighbors and powered by 19 local businesses. Track minutes, hit a milestone, walk to a Tosa shop or restaurant, redeem a reward. It's a reading challenge with prizes, and the prizes come from the neighborhood you already love.

How Little Joy Summer Reading Program works

From Sign-Up to the End-of-Summer Block Party. Five simple steps.

  • Sign up

    Register online here. Grab your gear at the Kick-Off Party @ Joy Ice Cream on Sunday, June 7.

  • Read

    Track minutes on your reading tracker. For every 10 minutes you read, fill in a circle. Fill in 100 circles to complete your reading tracker!

  • Get Prizes

    Bring your Summer Reader Card and Reading Tracker to partnering Tosa businesses to redeem milestone prizes.

  • Free Books

    For every 1,000 minutes you read, get a FREE book from Little Village! (We had lots of kiddos read over 7,000 minutes last summer!)

  • Celebrate together

    Bring your tracker to the End-of-Summer Block Party at Little Village on Sunday, August 30 for grand prize drawings, games and celebrations!
Powered by Tosa

Local businesses make Little Joy possible

Every reading milestone unlocks a real reward at one of these Tosa shops, restaurants, and small businesses. Tap any to learn more.

Crafty Cow

Fancy Pants Pet Salon

Firefly Counseling MKE

Firefly Real Estate

Happy Buddha

 Kick-Off Party Host

Joy Ice Cream Social

 Tosa Treasure

Little Geese Shop

 End of Summer Party Host

Little Village Play Cafe

Lyss & Littles

 Tosa Treasure

Mathnasium of Wauwatosa

Milwaukee Brewers

 Tosa Treasure

Nourish Skin & Sugar Studio

Ruckus & Glee

Shop Privy

Tabal Chocolate

Tosa Yoga

 Tosa Treasure

Well Read Damsel

 Tosa Treasure

Wonderkind Pediatric Dentistry

 Tosa Treasure

Zarminali Pediatrics

A handful of partner spots are still open.

Apply by May 11Are you a Tosa business? We'd love to have you. We're accepting new partners through May 11, 2026, or until spots fill.

Email hello@thelittlevillageplaycafe.com

Two Parties to Bookend The Program

  • Kick-Off Party on the Patio

    @ Joy Ice Cream Social

    Sunday, June 7 · All ages

    Pick up your welcome bag, grab a scoop, meet other reading families.

    RSVP Link Coming Soon

  • End-Of-Summer Block Party

    @ LITTLE VILLAGE

    Sunday, June 7 · All ages

    Bring your tracker, collect your last book, play games, enter to win the grand prize drawing.

    RSVP Link Coming Soon

Who This Summer Reading Program Is For...

  • Toddlers ages 2-4 whose grown-ups read to them (read-aloud counts)
  • Early readers ages 5-7 building stamina
  • Elementary readers ages 8-10 ready for chapter books
  • Middle-grade readers ages 11-12 chasing series
  • Tosa, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, and Brookfield families looking for a free or low-cost summer reading challenge alternative to library or bookstore programs

Schedule & pricing

The Little Joy Summer Reading Program runs June 7th - August 30.

It is self-paced a self-paced reading program. Which means you & your child can read as fast or slow as you want. Fill in 20 circles on your sheet, or complete 8 reading trackers... There's no wrong way to participate in this summer reading program... as long as you're having fun. 😉

Members

FREE for Little Village members. (Use your member promocode)

Non-Members

$20 per class for non-members.

Meet your Program Director

Designed by an Early Childhood Educator

Jenni Shine, Director of Programming and lead teacher of Story Sprouts at Little Village Play Cafe

Jenni Shine

Director of Programming · Early Childhood Educator

Jenni joined the Little Village team in summer 2025. She launched and leads our Summer Reading Program and teaches our Early Readers Preschool Camp.

She has a knack for engaging kids of every learning style and brings a thoughtful, hands-on approach to early childhood learning, creating experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence.

Most preschool camps are run by general activity counselors. Story Sprouts is led by an educator with a Bachelor's in Education and a deep love of storytelling. That's the difference.

  • Bachelor's in Education, Marquette
  • Story Sprouts lead
  • Summer Reading Program lead
  • Early childhood focus

Why families Love The Summer Reading Program

Library summer reading is great. Bookstore summer reading is great. Little Joy adds a third layer: every reading milestone is rewarded by a real Tosa business.

Your kid reads 30 minutes, walks two blocks to a Tosa coffee shop, gets a treat, and feels like the mayor. That's the loop. We've watched it turn reluctant readers into kids who ask for screen time to be replaced with book time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages is the Summer Reading Program for?

Ages 2 through 12. Read-aloud counts for early readers.
Is the Summer Reading Program free?

Free for Little Village members. $20 for non-members.
Does read-aloud time count toward the tracker?

Yes. Any time spent listening to or reading a book counts.
What are the prizes?

Rewards from local Tosa businesses (treats, swag, free upgrades).

Plus a free book at Little Village for every 1,000 minutes tracked.

And the cherry on top >> a grand prize drawing at the End-of-Summer Block Party.
Do I have to attend the Block Parties?

Nope. They are wonderful but optional. Pick up your kit at Little Village any time after June 7.
How is this different from the Wauwatosa Library Summer Reading Program?

We ❤️ Local Libraries... especially the Tosa Library!

Little Joy is run by the vibrant community of Tosa small businesses and encourages families participating to visit the participating businesses to redeem their reading rewards.

Many families participate in both the library reading programs and the Little Joy reading program.
Can my kid sign up if we don't live in Wauwatosa?

Absolutely! Anyone is welcome. Most participating businesses are in Wauwatosa, so the rewards work best if you can swing through Tosa now and then. But that's super easy. ;)

What if we lose their tracker or reader card?

Stop by the cafe for a replacement card or reading tracker.

** You must present your reading tracker AND reading card to redeem your rewards at participating businesses.

Other summer programs at Little Village

Have an older sibling, a baby, or a kid who loves to read? We've got a program for them too. Explore Summer Programming →

  •  

    Curiosity Crew 3-Day Camp

    Ages 3-4 with caregiver

    Tues-Thurs · 2:30-4 pm

    Ready for camp but not drop-off yet?!

    Learn More
  •  

    Babysitter Academy

    K4-1st (drop-off)

    Mondays 1:30-3:30pm

    Where tweens gain independence & become responsible caregivers.

    Learn More
  •  

    Baby & Me Stroller Walks

    Babies 12 mo & under

    Mondays · 9-10 am · Free

    Grab a coffee and join us for a free Monday loop in East Tosa.

    Learn More
  •  

    Story Sprouts 3-Day Camp

    Incoming Grades K4-1st

    Tues-Thurs · 12-2pm

    Where confidence blooms & friendships form.

    Learn More