There are some great summer reading programs that your children can take advantage of to earn FREE books and other prizes!
Here is a roundup for programs available to families in Minnesota!
AudioFile SYNC – Teens age 13 and up can download two audiobooks each week for FREE.
Barnes & Noble Imagination Destination – This summer reading program through Barnes & Noble gives your child the ability to earn a FREE book after reading 8 books and keeping track of them in a reading log. View and download the reading log here!
Half Price Books -They are offering the “Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp” which is all online and includes:
· Reading Logs: All logs will be turned in virtually this year and reading rewards sent via email!
· Weekly Printable Activities: Each week we will offer a brand new printable activity sheet for your young readers, including mazes, coloring sheets, word searches and more!
· Donation Drive: This year, we’re asking you to help us share the love of reading all summer long. Booklovers can collect their previously read books and donate in-store in June and July to help other young readers in need through our donations program!
Junie B Jones Reading Club – Sign up and get a FREE starter Kit that includes a copy of Junie B Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, Activity sheets and a membership ID card while supplies last. (UPDATE – the physical kits are no longer available, but you can download the complete Reading Log and Activity Brochure.)
Chuck E. Cheese – Earn FREE tokens every time your child reads. Just print off a Reading Rewards Calendar and get 10 free play points when it’s filled out and turned in. (They have other rewards for kids as well, including silly ones like a “No Nose Picking Calendar” for preschoolers!)
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge – Starting April 26th, kids can participate in the Scholastic Summer Reading Program where they will be encouraged to read, celebrate their achievements and help increase access to books for their peers. Kids can also download and print a report of their reading progress to share with their parent, educator, librarian, or group leader.
Another program is the Pizza Hut Book-It Program. This existed when I was a kid and is still going strong! It’s now called Camp Book It. Kids who read can earn a free personal pan pizza. They also have free printables for summer fun.
AND SAVING THE BEST (OR AT LEAST MY FAVORITE) FOR LAST…
Local Public Library – Don’t forget to check out your local libraries to find out which programs they’ll be offering this summer. My kids have participated in several Summer reading Programs through the library and it always includes FREE books & prizes. Visit the MELSA website to learn more about the summer programs in local Twin Cities area libraries!
One more (though not available in Minnesota):
Amazon’s Summer Reading Program (NOT AVAILABLE IN MINNESOTA) -Kids can read 8 books this summer, keep track and bring back their list to an amazon retail store, and then get a Star Reader Certificate and choice of a free book. For kids K-8.
Programs like these are a great way to encourage our 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!