Summer Reading Programs

Growing up we didn't have cable TV and when we were allowed to watch TV we were limited. My parents were huge advocates of reading and always took us to the library and I'm thankful that they really got my siblings and I into reading early on.

There are lots of great free programs out there to help encourage your kids to keep reading this summer. Here’s a summary of what’s available:

Pottery Barn Kids
Keep your kids reading all summer long with great books! Children receive a prize after completing the recommended reading list featuring award-winning titles. Visit your local store starting now through August 22nd to participate. You’ll get a bookmark to take home with you listing all the required reading titles. Once you’ve got those checked off, return to your local Pottery Barn Kids and they’ll have a basket of books that your child can choose from.

Half Price Books Summer Reading Program is for kids 14 and younger. Click here for all program details, and to print a reading log. Read at least 15 minutes a day in June and July (300 minutes a month) and earn a $5 Half Price Books gift card redeemable at the end of the each month.

Barnes &Noble’s Summer Reading Program lets your child in grades 1-6th earn a free book (from a select list) once they have read 8 books and completed a reading log. For full details on their program, click here.

Scholastic is hosting a Summer Challenge. Kids create an online account and keep track of their reading minutes to earn prizes. As they complete weekly reading challenges on the site, they can spin the Prize Wheel to win digital prizes like book & audio chapters and virtual badges. There are also sweepstakes that kids can enter after logging minutes. Go here for full details.

Chuck E. Cheese – your child can earn 10 free tokens every time they read for 2 weeks straight. Head here to print out the Reading Rewards Calendar.

PBS Kids has teamed up with iVillage on a free 6-week program that launches June 6th. Go here for full program details.

Sylvan offers a free reading incentive program where kids read books, take a comprehension quiz about how much they remember and earn points based on how well they did on the quiz. They can then redeem those points for prizes. Head here for full program details. Your kids can check out the list of available prizes here – there are some good ones!

To help kids keep track of their summer reading minutes, you can download the Scholastic Reading Timer app for free here.

Be sure to check with your local library, as most public libraries have their own Summer Reading Programs, where kids can earn prizes and badges.

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