Growing Readers: Creating a Summer Reading “Potato Buddy” Display

Apr 27, 2026

Thank you so much to Piper Arington, iREAD Committee member and the Program Director at the Towanda District Library in Towanda, IL, for today's blog post!

For this year’s “Plant a Seed, Read!” Summer Reading Program, I wanted to create a simple, low-cost, and highly engaging passive display that would grow alongside our readers throughout the summer. The result was our Summer Reading Potato Buddy, a small, evolving mascot that encourages repeat visits, imagination, and participation.

Concept & Goal

The idea is straightforward:
We begin the summer with a small potato, and over the course of the program, it “grows” week by week into a full sweet potato.

This visual growth mirrors the program’s core message-readers grow with every book they read.

To make the potato more engaging, I'm adding googly eyes and creating a personality for him. He becomes less of a prop and more of a character that kids can connect with.

Display Setup

The Potato Buddy lives in a small tank-style display placed in a visible area of the library. Inside the tank, I created a miniature environment to give it a whimsical, storybook feel.

Materials used:

• Small glass tank (easily purchased at any pet store)
  • Green textured matting (to mimic grass)
    • Decorative moss
    • Small faux mushrooms
    • Glass stones (used to create a “stream” feature)
      
      
    • Assorted pebbles
    • Mini wooden platform/bench
    • Hot glue (for securing elements as needed)

The goal was to create a space that feels like a tiny world—something that invites kids to stop, look closely, and imagine what the potato might be doing.

Daily & Weekly Interaction

One of the key elements of this display is that it is not static.

• Daily: The potato’s position or “activity” changes (resting, exploring, sitting by the stream, etc.)
• Weekly: The potato grows in size, reinforcing the theme of progress and transformation

Each week, I also place a small sign next to the tank sharing:

• What the potato has been “reading”
• What adventures he’s been on around the library

This adds a storytelling layer and encourages kids to check back regularly.

Naming Engagement

At the start of the program, the Potato Buddy does not have a name.

We invite kids to participate by:

• Submitting name ideas into a designated box
• Helping “choose” the potato’s official name

This creates early buy-in and gives participants a sense of ownership over the character.

However, if you wanted to start with a name of your own, here are some fun options I came up with:

• Tater Swift 
• Sir Reads-a-Lot
• Spudlock Holmes
• The Great Gatspotato
• Tater Tot Tolkien 
• Spuddy the Pooh
• Readin’ Russet
• Count Spudula 

Introductory Signage

To introduce the display, I created a simple, friendly sign that sits alongside the tank. It:

• Explains who the potato is
• Invites name suggestions
• Encourages repeat visits

The tone is intentionally playful and accessible for a wide age range.

Social Media Integration

To extend engagement beyond the physical space, the Potato Buddy is also featured on social media.

Throughout the summer, we post:

• Growth updates
• “Adventures” around the library
• Name reveal and voting highlights

This helps:

• Keep families engaged between visits
• Promote the Summer Reading Program organically
• Encourage more in-person interaction with the display

Why It Works

This project has been especially effective because it is:

• Low-cost – built from simple craft materials and reused items
• Flexible – can be adapted to different themes or spaces
• Interactive – invites participation without requiring staff facilitation
• Narrative-driven – creates an ongoing story that kids want to follow

Most importantly, it reinforces the central message: growth happens over time, and reading is part of that journey.

If you’re looking for an easy way to add personality and continuity to your Summer Reading Program, a small evolving mascot like this can make a big impact.