15 Free Summer Reading Programs 2012

School’s out for summer!!!! Encourage your students to keep reading all summer by getting them hooked on these way cool prizes they can earn from reading. They will take pride in earning fun stuff and get the benefit of reading. Who knows you might even help build a life-long reader.

Looking for the Summer Reading Programs in 2013? Check my list of 15 Free Summer Reading Programs for 2014.

1. Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge – Through August 22 – Students ages 12 and under who read 12 recommended “Award-Winning” books or 6 “Early Reader” books will be rewarded with a free book and completion certificate and the chance to win a backpack full of books. Kids can track their progress via a bookmark reading list and coloring page available in-store and downloadable online. The books will also be available for purchase in-store and online.
2. Barnes and Noble’s Summer Reading – Through September 4 – Your kids can read any 8 books and then make a recommendation about the books 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.
3. Fazoli’s Friendly Reader Program – Participating Fazoli’s will present you with a Fazoli’s bookmark. Read five books and fill out the information on the bookmark, and you will receive a Free Kid’s Meal!
4. Applebee’s Book Worm Reading Club – This reading-focused reward program encourages students ages 12 or younger at school or the library to read at least 10 books that they record on their “Bookworm Club” record card. Once a student completes all 10 books they will earn a free kid’s meal at Applebee’s (when accompanied by an adult making a purchase).
5. Friendly’s Chore Charts – Create your own customized chores list tailored just for your family (hint, reading). Every time your kids complete their weekly chores, you can reward your kids with special Friendly’s treats. All you have to do is register and create a chart.
6. Chuck E. Cheese’s Reading Rewards Calendar – Through December 31, 2012 – Chuck E. Cheese rewards 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. (Download other reward calendars here.)
7. Scholastic’s Summer Challenge – Yes, the same program that sells books through your kids’ school all year, will reward your kiddos with digital prizes for logging their reading minutes over the summer. There are also sweepstakes for fun gifts too.
8. TD Bank Summer Reading Program – Though September 29 – Once your kids read 10 books and complete this form, 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.)
9. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain – Through August 5 – Kids 14 and under can earn $5 in back-to-school bucks by setting a reading goal and tracking their reading minutes (at least 15 minutes a day) with this reading calendar. Each month, one top reader per age group will win a $20 HPB Gift Card.
10. Sylvan Book Adventure – Kids (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 six-month subscription to Highlights Magazine and a chocolate bar.
11. Book It – June 15 to August 15 – Kids (K-6) who read 5 books can enter to win a “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” Summer Prize Pack that includes: Tote Bag, 2 “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books, 2 “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”  DVDs a “Greg” plush and a $20 Visa Gift Card. (This is a sweepstakes, but hey, if you are already participating in one of the other programs above your kid might as well enter.) Entry form.
12. PBS Summer Reading Community Challenge – This one is more for parents with a daily email full of tips, but there is also a chance to win daily prizes.
13. HEB Grocery Stores’, HE Buddy Summer Reading Club – Read any 10 books, and then mail back the form by October 1 to receive your “cool” prize. (I am guessing a t-shirt since it asks for shirt size.) FYI – this year this is valid for Texas residents only.
14. Local libraries – most local libraries have some kind of summer reading program often with goodie bags from local merchants. Check your local library for more details.
15. LeapFrog Summer Camp – Not really a summer reading program per say, but starting June 4 the camp will offer daily activities and ideas to help parents keep kids (ages 4-7) learning all summer.
16. BONUS Tip from a reader – National Amusements – Bring a book report (form is downloadable from website) on Wednesdays from July 11 – August 8, kids get in for free to see selected movies at 10:00 am.

And you can always create your own summer reading rewards program at home. Check out these free printables to get you started.

If your daughter is an American Girl fan, Read-a-palooza is a great way to give back. Through September 3, $1 of every book purchased through American Girl goes to Save the Children’s U.S. Literacy Program (up to a maximum of $100,000).

Finally – save on all of those summer reading books by taking advantage of Amazon’s 4 for 3 promotion. Choose from select adult, teen and kids titles under $10 and when you buy 4 you will get the lowest-price book free.

Plus keep your kids busy this summer with these 15 Free Summer Activities For Kids.