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.
- Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge – Through August 26 PBK invites children to ‘take the challenge’ by reading 14 hand-selected books. Children who complete the book list and bring it to a Pottery Barn Kids location will receive a free book, or parents can enter their child into an online drawing for a backpack full of books.
- Barnes and Noble’s Summer Reading – Through September 13 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.
- 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).
- Friendly’s Chore Charts – Create your own customized chores list tailored just for your family (hint, reading). Everytime 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.
- Chuck E. Cheese’s Reading Rewards Calendar – Through December 31, 2013 – 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.)
- 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.
- TD Bank Summer Reading Program – Though September 30 – 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.)
- Half Price Books Feed Your Brain – Through August 11 – Kids 14 and under can earn a $5 coupon by reading at least 15 minutes a day and tracking their reading minutes with this reading calendar. Each month, one top reader per age group will win a $20 HPB Gift Card.
- 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 three-month subscription to Highlights Magazine and a chocolate bar.
- Book It – Details coming soon, sign up on website to be emailed when details are ready.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. And, to keep you connected with all things Junie B., we’ll send you updates seasonally so you’re in the loop about new books, games and activities, special events, sweepstakes and more!
- 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.
- 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 (while supplies last).
BONUS ideas!
Amazon Summer Reading Sweepstakes – nominiate your school for a chance to win 50 Kindle e-readers.
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 August 26, $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).
PBS Summer Reading Community Challenge is more for parents with a daily email full of tips, but there is also a chance to win daily prizes.
Plus keep your kids busy this summer with these 15 Free Summer Activities For Kids.
Anxiously awaiting the list for 2014. Your 2012 and 2013 lists were AWESOME! I want to use the 2014 for our Summer Program at our Library this year. So many resources – priceless! Thank you so much.
Many of the same programs are back from last year, but there are a few changes. Here is the 2014 list – http://www.thesuburbanmom.com/2014/05/19/15-free-summer-reading-programs-2014. Thanks for asking! Hope you enjoy.