2017 Reading Reward Programs

LINKS UPDATED FOR 2017:

Although our kids are doing a little schoolwork through the summer, their lessons are relaxed enough to allow for lots of extra-curricular reading. That’s why summer book clubs and reading reward programs are always popular at our house.

What follows is an updated list of programs that will inspire your child to curl up with some good books throughout the summer and on into the next school year. Check out these great rewards they can earn for spending just 15-30 minutes a day reading:

Barnes & Noble – Get a free children’s book

Earn a free age-appropriate book this summer when you read eight (choose your favorite prize book from a predetermined list). Download a reading journal to get started! Your child can get even more prizes by joining B&N Kids Club.

Braum’s Book Buddy Program – Free ice cream

Children in grades 1-5 can earn an ice cream treat for every six books they read. The program provides reading logs with fun stickers for tracking progress, as well as coupons for two free cones, two free sundaes, and two free frozen yogurts. The prizes are to be earned during the school year, but the coupons are good through June 30. Enrollment for the 2017-18 school year will open August 1. For more information, follow this link or write: Braum’s Book Buddy Reading Program/ PO Box 25429/ OKC, OK 73125.

Chuck E. Cheese – Earn free game tokens

Kids can earn 10 free game tokens from Chuck E Cheese by reading every day for two weeks. These rewards are available all year long, with a limit of one reward certificate per day per child. Visit their website to find charts for helping your kids establish other good habits, as well.

Family Reading Club – Design your own program

You might consider hosting a “Family Reading Club” during the months of summer to foster in your children a continued love and preference for reading, especially if they’ve grown too old to participate in these other programs. You can print reading logs for each of your kids, keep track of minutes or pages read, and determine your own prizes. Follow this link for more great ideas for making summer reading fun.

Half-Price Books – Earn up to $10 in Bookworm Bucks

With Half-Price Books “Feed Your Brain” Summer Reading Program, kids can read at least 15 minutes/day or 300 minutes/month through June and July to earn a $5 coupon (one per month) which can be used to purchase books at Half-Price books. Kids can track their time on these HPB reading logs. High Schoolers can qualify for the same prize by reading a book a month and writing a short review.

HEB Grocery Stores – Free T-shirt

Kids who live in Texas can get a free “Reading Club” T-shirt from H.E.B. when they read 10 books before October 1. Visit HEB to pick up a reading log, or download one here: HEB Reading Log.

Local Public Libraries – Programs and prizes vary

Many Public Libraries offer all sorts of programs aimed at fostering in kids a love for books and reading, including book clubs with prizes, weekly story times, guest lectures and performances, craft days, tea parties, and fun family-friendly films.

For those of you who are local, you should check out all the great programs being offered by Tyler Public Library this summer, including their 1KB4K (1000 Books before Kindergarten) program and prizes. Others can follow this link to find a library near you and learn what programs are available in your area.

Pizza Hut’s Book-It Program – Free Pizza

Pizza Hut awards free personal pan pizzas to school children who meet their reading goals. This program is also open to homeschoolers. Enroll by Spetember 1 for the upcoming school year by filling out this form. Pizza Hut also sponsors a summer break reading challenge for kids that includes a suggested reading list and free printable activity pages for each title.

Scholastic – Various reading incentives

This site offers free printable bookmarks, coloring pages, and reading goal logs, plus pointers for parents and educators who want to motivate children to read.

Six Flags “Read to Succeed” – Free ticket to Six Flags

This programs awards K-6 students (including homeschoolers) a free ticket to the amusement park for reading just six hours, but the deadline to sign-up is March 1. That’s rather late for school year planning, but extremely early for summer programs, so make a note on your calendar to check back next January for the 2018 program.

Sylvan’s Learning – Online book reward program

Kids can find books, take quizzes, and earn prizes with this free online program. Read individually or compete as part of a team.

Know about any reading reward program I’ve missed? Please leave a comment below and share, so I can add it to the list.