There are so many fun FREE Summer Reading Programs for Kids this year!
Once school is out for the summer, it’s easy for kids to lose the habit of reading.
Regular daily reading is essential for kids to hone their reading skills, especially during the slower days of summer, when they’re not in school and reading every day.
You’ll find it’s so much easier to encourage your kids to keep reading when they know they’re working for fun reading rewards.
I’ve gathered up all of the FREE Summer Reading Programs available this year.
Be sure to scroll all of the way down to find a list of More FREE Summer Programs for Kids.
Summer Reading Programs for Kids
If you like this, then you might also be interested in this list of Good Report Card Freebies.
There are many great programs that your children can take advantage of to earn FREE books, prizes, and cash!
Need some kid’s book recommendations? Check out this Kids Summer Reading Book List for lots of great ideas for the best books for kids to read this summer, including books for all ages and all reading levels.
Barnes & Noble Book Your Summer
This summer reading program through Barnes & Noble gives your child the ability to earn a FREE book after reading books and keeping track of them in a reading log.
Participation is a fun and easy way for kids to earn free books.
They simply read a designated number of books – library books, books borrowed from friends, or books bought at Barnes & Noble – write about their favorite part in the Reading Journal, and bring a completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore.
Children then choose their free books from the books listed in the Reading Journal and collect them from a store near them during July and August.
Book Adventure
Sylvan offers this reading incentive program.
Basically, your child reads books and then takes a simple comprehension quiz to make sure they understand what they read.
The quiz is usually about 10 questions long.
They earn points based on how much they remember from reading the book.
There are hundreds of books to choose from in all reading levels.
These are common books that can be found at your local library.
Once they have earned enough points, they can trade them for some really neat prizes!
Chuck E. Cheese
Kids can earn ten free game tokens every day for two weeks when they read.
Fill out the Reading Rewards Calendar each day and bring it to your local Chuck E. Cheese to redeem for ten free tokens.
Half Price Books
During the months of July and August, campers can visit their local HPB with their completed reading logs to receive $5 Bookworm Bucks which are good for $5 off anything in store — so your booklovers can add even more great reads to their collection!
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.
Panda Express Read With Me Program
Once enrolled in the program, teachers or homeschool parents receive paper bookmarks and awards.
When a student completes 5 books, the teacher or parent awards the student with a free kids meal coupon.
Pizza Hut Book It Program
BOOK IT! is a reading incentive program created by Pizza Hut in 1984. We empower teachers and parents to motivate their students to read by providing digital Reading Award Certificates®, good for a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut®. This program is free to schools and parents homeschooling their own children.
Who is eligible to participate?
- Teachers at accredited public, private, and charter schools who teach English Language Arts curriculum for PreK* – 6th grade students (ages 4-12), and enroll individually for their classrooms using their school issued email
- Students may only participate through their primary classroom teacher and may only earn one certificate per month
- Parents homeschooling their own children may enroll in the BOOK IT! homeschool program
- *PreK requirements: School must be accredited and have an approved PreK curriculum. Eligible students must be age 4 by September 1st
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Log in your reading minutes to the Scholastic site and your child will be able to participate in a World Record challenge as well as earn digital prizes!
From May 4 through September 7th, kids can visit the summer zone in Scholastic Home Base, a completely free digital destination that offers stories, characters, games, and a community of readers. Home Base is moderated for safety 24/7.
Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays
Your child can earn a FREE movie ticket from National Amusements Theaters when they read a book and complete a book report.
A fun and rewarding summer reading program developed to encourage young children to read during the summer months, Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating Showcase Cinemas box office.
Tickets must be reserved in advance online or on the app, and seating is limited. Tickets will not be available at the box office, for large parties, or for camp groups.
Accompanying parents or guardians and children under six years of age receive free admission and do not need to submit a book report.
Bookworm Wednesday Movie Schedule:
- To be announced…
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.
(This one has been suspended temporarily)
TD Bank Summer Reading Program
Your child will get $10 added to their Young Saver Account FREE when they read ten books, fill out the Summer Reading form and turn it into their local TD Bank.
Check with your branch to see if they are participating.
Programs like these are a great way to encourage our children to continue reading throughout the summer months.
If you know of other programs that aren’t listed here, please feel free to leave the information in a comment below.
More Free Summer Programs for Kids
You can find LOTS more Educational Freebies here!
