FREE Summer Reading Programs
I have always encouraged my children to read. I loved reading when I was a children and I recall walking to the library and struggling home with a pile of books up to my nose. I would devour those books and do it all over again the next day. Sadly, my children do not devour books in the manner I did, so I have to set aside a time each day for quiet, reading time.
Summer reading programs are a great way to encourage your child to read over the summer months if you don't already have a set quiet time in place. Perhaps you have a child who just simply does not enjoy reading. Give them a little incentive to really get into that summer reading!
Below is a list of summer reading programs that may entice your child to read to earn free books, money, gift cards, movies, and more.
2014 Free Summer Reading Programs
Free book Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge – Through August 26, PBK invites children to take the challenge by reading 14 hand-selected books from one of two lists. Children who complete the book list and bring it to a Pottery Barn Kids location will receive a free book, and parents can enter their child into an online drawing for a backpack full of books.
Free book Barnes and Noble's Summer Reading - From May 20 - September 2, have your kids read any 8 books and record them in the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Imagination’s Destination Journal. Once they complete the journal, they can take it back to the store to pick a free book from the list at the back of the journal.
10 free game tokens Chuck E Cheese's Reading Rewards Calendar - Through December 31, 2014, Chuck E. Cheese will reward kids for good behavior with its calendars. Download a Reading Rewards Calendar and your kiddo can mark off each day he/she reads. When the calendar is full, two weeks, turn it into your local Chuck E. Cheese for 10 free game tokens. Bonus, this can be done again and again.
Chance to win prizes Scholastic's Summer Challenge - Through September 5, kids can log summer reading minutes to earn digital prizes. In addition to tips and videos about summer reading, there are also weekly sweepstakes parents can enter on behalf of their readers.
$5 Half Price Bucks - Half Price Books Feed Your Brain - In June, July and through August 10, kids 14 and under can earn a $5 coupon by reading at least 300 minutes a month and tracking their reading minutes with this reading calendar. Each month, one top reader per age group will win a $20 HPB Gift Card.
$10 cash From June 1 - August 31, 10 books = $10! Once your child reads 10 books, they simply fill out a form, take it to the nearest TD Bank and TD Bank will deposit $10 into their Young Saver Account. (Note, you will need to either have or open a Young Saver Account for this program.)
Redeem points for prizes - Sylvan Book Adventure - K-8 read books (7,000 titles to choose from), and then take a short quiz to earn points. The points can then be redeemed for prizes including a three-month subscription to Highlights Magazine and a chocolate bar. Bonus, parents can monitor kids reading with online progress reports.
Chance to win prizes! - Book It - The summer BookIt programs runs June 1 – August 15 during the summer your child can continue reading with BookIt for a chance to win prizes. Plus parents will find summer reading list by grade.
Free book - Junie B. Kids' Reading club - Enroll your child in the Junie B. Kids’ Reading Club to receive a FREE copy of Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, exclusive activity pages and a membership ID card. Plus print out a reading log, activity book and printable stickers.
Free backpack - Books A Million - Read any six books on the summer reading program by August 17, have your parents verify and sign the form and return to your local BAM for a free Hoot or Chomp backpack .
Free movie - Showcase Cinemas - Bring a book report (form is downloadable from website) on Wednesdays from July 9 - August 13, kids get in for free to see selected movies on Wednesdays at 10:00 am. Parents who take their kid for the free movie get free admission as do children 6 years and younger without submitting a book report.
Here's the schedule for the free Showcase Cinemas kids movies:
- July 9 - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
- July 16 - Epic
- July 23 - Despicable Me 2
- July 30 - The Croods
- August 6 - Turbo
- August 13 - The Smurfs 2