2015 Summer Reading Programs for Kids
Have you taken advantage of FREE Summer Reading Programs yet? Encouraging your child to read is one of the biggest and best things you can do for his/her education – and it’s especially important during the summer months. Discover books that your child loves – and create fun places to read (blanket fort, backyard blanket, park) and reading won’t seem like work at all!
Check out the huge list of FREE Summer Reading Programs available this year. You’ll find a number of great programs that your children can take advantage of to earn FREE books, prizes, and cash! It’s a recipe for summer reading fun!
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Barnes & Noble Imagination Destination – Read 8 books, track them in a reading log and earn a FREE book from Barnes & Noble (from a list of choices).
Book Adventure – Sylvan offers this FREE reading incentive program. Your child reads books and then takes a simple comprehension quiz on each (around 10 questions) to make sure they understood what they read. Readers earn points based on how much they remember from reading the book, then redeem points for really fun prizes!. You’ll find quizzes for hundreds of titles in all reading levels (just check books out from your library).
BOOK It! – Pizza Hut kicks off a summer reading challenge with Wimpy Kid beginning June 22, 2015. Kids in grades K-6 who read 5 books by August 15 have a chance to win awesome BOOK IT! prizes.
Chuck E. Cheese – Earn 10 FREE tokens when you complete a reading log for the month. Bring your finished form to Chuck E. Cheese to claim your tokens.
Create Your Own Family Program – Decide together on reading goals and create a chart to track progress. Set points for minutes read, pages read or books read. Kids redeem their points for rewards like having a friend over, going on a family picnic or out for ice cream, staying up late, baking together, etc.
Emagine Summer Reading Program – Kids 11 and under who read 3 books and complete the form get a free kids’ snack pack with a paid admission at Imagine Theater. The reward can be earned multiple times throughout the summer with no limit. (June 13-August 30)
Family Christian Summer Reading Program – Kids 12 years and younger can read any 6 Christian books and fill out a short report for each one. Bring the completed forms to a store or submit via email to receive a $10 store savings pass (valid on a purchase of $10 or more)!
Half Price Books – Kids ages 14 and under a chance can earn a $5 HPB Gift Card (Bookworm Bucks) for reading just 15 minutes each day. Earn a reward each month during June and July.
Local Public Library – Don’t forget to check out your local libraries to find out which programs they’ll be offering this summer. Most programs include FREE books & prizes – and are worth your time! (You’ll want to visit your library anyway to find books to read for the other reading programs!)
Scholastic Summer Challenge – Log reading minutes on the Scholastic site and your child will be able to participate in a World Record challenge as well as earn digital prizes!
Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays – Your child can earn a FREE movie ticket to a select movie from National Amusements Theaters when they read a book and complete a book report.
Six Flags Read to Succeed – K-6 students who complete six hours of non-school-related reading approved by their parents and teachers are eligible for free admission to their nearest theme park.
TD Bank Summer Reading Program – Read and keep track of 10 books this summer and your child will get $10 added to their Young Saver Account FREE!
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Programs like these are a great way to encourage children to continue reading throughout the summer months. If you know of any other programs that aren’t listed here, please feel free to leave the information in a comment below.
READING TIP for Summer Travel: If you have kids who can read in the car, look for cheap books at garage sales, thrift stores and library resale stores (I try to pay around a quarter per book). I prefer not to travel with library books, but will buy books to take on vacation (and then donate them back when we return). I consider it a very small rental fee and worth the quiet time in the car!
Thanks, Saving Dollars and Sense!
Betty Winslow [a K-5 school librarian] says
Great list! Another idea is to put together a neighborhood book swap, with kids donating books they’re done with and taking an equal number of ones they haven’t read. And if there’s a Little Free Library in your area http://littlefreelibrary.org/ you can trade in books there, too. Keep your kids reading over the summer – reading is a skill that needs to be practiced, just like sports or music!
Jolyn says
Thanks for the great tips! I’ll be sure to add them!
Kristen says
Reading Rainbow launched something called “Skybrary” last week. It’s a website with over 500 interactive books. There’s a free 14 day trial and so far my four year old loves it.