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If you’re looking for summer reading programs for kids, this is our comprehensive list of all the completely FREE programs!
{Looking for other fun summer deals? Kids can bowl for free and skate for free at many participating locations this summer!
Believe it or not, it’s almost that time of year again — when school is out and summer reading programs abound. Yay!
Note: We recommend calling your local stores to verify that they’re participating in these programs this year.
Free Summer Reading Programs 2023
Do your kids love to read, too? If so, this is our big list of all the FREE summer reading programs that are available nationally!
Barnes & Noble— Earn a free book through the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program for kids in grades 1-6.
Read any eight books this summer and record them in your Summer Reading Journal (PDF download). Explain which part of the book is your favorite, and why.
Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between July 1st and August 31st, 2023.
Receive a FREE BOOK of your choice from the selection on the Reading Journal list.
Chuck E. Cheese — Kids can fill out their Reading Rewards Calendar when they read every day for two weeks, and then trade it in for 10 FREE play points at your local Chuck E. Cheese location.
Half Price Books — Starting June 1st, Half Price Books is hosting Summer Reading Camp for kids 14 or younger. Kids are encouraged to read 15 minutes per day to reach a total of at least 300 minutes. After that, they can turn in their completed reading log to their local store to earn Bookworm Bucks to spend. Each week they will also offer fun new printable activity sheets of all kinds!
Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Program — Kids ages 18 and under can select a list from the grade level bands listed. Print the list and track each book you read by checking it off and recording the date it was read, along with a rating. Submit your list to receive a recognition certificate and T-shirt!
Pizza Hut Camp Book It — In addition to their annual school year program, Pizza Hut also has their summer reading program called Camp Book it! Simply track your child’s reading during June, July, and August. Once they reach their monthly reading goal, they can redeem for a free one-topping personal pizza at Pizza Hut!
Showcase Cinemas — Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free movie admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating Cinema de Lux, Showcase, or Multiplex Cinemas box office.
SYNC — A summer reading program geared toward teens aged 13 and older, the program will run for 14 weeks and offer two thematically paired audiobooks for checkout each week, for free, to every registered listener.
Local Libraries — Above all, don’t forget about your local library! Most of them offer fun summer reading programs with prizes and more.
Looking for a fun way to encourage and motivate your kids to read more? Or need a creative way for your kids to keep track of all the books they read through summer reading programs this year?
Be sure to download our FREE Kid’s Summer Reading Printable Pack! It comes with a reading challenge, reading time tracker, and fill-in-the-blank summer reading list.
Do you know of any other Summer Reading Programs we should add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
