2024 Fun & Free Summer Reading Programs for Kids
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Summer is the perfect opportunity to jump-start your kids’ interest in reading or keep them reading. See this year’s current reading programs.
Free Summer Reading Programs for Kids
Summer is the perfect opportunity to jump-start your kids’ interest in reading or keep them reading if it’s something they already enjoy. Summer reading programs are plenty, so you’ve got lots of incentives out there in the form of prizes and awards to keep your kids interested.
Reading not only keeps them interested in books, but it will give them some downtime to relax and curl up with a good book.
PLUS… this quiet time will help you (My Favorite Part). Maybe you can clean the house for a few minutes or even cook dinner. Sounds great, right? Reading programs are a bonus for everyone. Time to get your kids signed up today.
Below you’ll find a list of summer reading programs that will get your kids’ free stuff like free books, money, gift cards, movies, and more. Plus, don’t forget to check out your local library. I know ours offers a great program we take part in every year.
2024 Best Summer Reading Programs for Kids
Applebees
(Upstate New York, Sayre, PA & Connecticut only). Select locations offer a reading-focused reward program that encourages students ages 10 or younger to read (and record) at least 10 books on their Bookworm Club record card.
This program can be used by schools, and/or libraries as educators deem fit. Once a student completes all 10 books, they will earn a free kid’s meal at participating Applebee’s locations (when accompanied by an adult making a purchase)
Audio Books
Audio Book Sync is giving teens ages 13+ two FREE audio books downloads every week. Hold on… read that again… a FREE AUDIOBOOK EVERY SINGLE WEEK during the summer! New titles are released every Thursday.
I personally love listening to audiobooks, they are so captivating! My kids love this program because it still “counts” as reading, even though they are actually listening.
Barnes & Noble’s Summer Reading Program
This summer reading program requires kids to read eight books and record them in a reading journal. Turn in your completed Reading Journal and choose a FREE BOOK from the selection on the Reading Journal list at the store.
Books-A-Million
This summer, when you read any four books from the Books-A-Million Summer Reading Challenge selection in-store and online, you’ll receive a free Because of Winn Dixie Notepad! Note that you must present the completed reading journal in-store to receive the freebie, while supplies last.
Cap Com Credit Union
Year-Round & Summer Reading Programs – Students in grades Kindergarten through 12 can earn up to $10 ($2 per book) by reading! You can take part in this reading program all year long and earn up to $30 per year! For reading?!!
You can submit the request form at any Cap Com branch location or by simply emailing the form to them as well. Talk about an easy $30!
Chuck E Cheese Summer Reading Program
offers a Reading Rewards Calendar (along with several other rewards calendars). Once a child has completed two weeks of reading, he or she can submit the completed Chuck E. Cheese calendar for 10 free tokens.
Junie B Jones Reading Club
Sign up and get a FREE starter Kit that includes a copy of Junie B Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, Activity sheets, and a membership ID card while supplies last.
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 our local library and it always includes FREE books & prizes.
Pizza Hut Book It! Program.
This program offers free reading adventure packs for parents to download. Kids can read, do activities and create recipes based on certain books, and more.
You can enter your zip code and see if your local school has requested participation. It looks like schools can win free pizzas for participating. I remember participating in this one myself. It has been around for a long time. Homeschoolers can also enter this program!
Scholastic’s Summer Reading Program
This summer reading program lets kids log their reading minutes to win digital prizes. They can also enter sweepstakes for gifts like Klutz books and other fun rewards. Parents can register along with their children to track progress.
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.
Sylvan’s Book Adventure Reading Program
This reading program called Book Adventure encourages children to read books and then take online quizzes on books to earn points. They offer over 40,000 different quizzes. WOW! These points can then be redeemed for prizes like books, magazine subscriptions, tattoos, candy, CD’s, and games.
TD Bank Summer Reading Program
With this summer reading program, TD Bank will deposit $10 into a Young Savers account when your child reads at least 10 books and submits his reading list. You must have either an existing Young Savers account or be willing to open one for your child.
Keeping your kids active this summer
There are lots of options to keep the kids learning and engaged during the summer! Programs like these are a great way to encourage our children to continue reading throughout the summer months.
Does anyone else know of other programs for 2024? I will keep this list updated as new ones pop up, so be sure to check back often!
Have a great summer.
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Hi! Thanks so much for your list. My daughters LOVE summer reading programs/challenges, so we always try to participate in as many as possible. Wanted to let you know that we just checked in with TD Bank, as their form posted online is last year’s form, and they told us that they discontinued the summer reading challenge for 2020. Not sure if it is a result of the pandemic, but they are not offering the summer reading program/challenge this year, according to their corporate offices. Bummer, for sure. Cheers!!
OH Jennifer, what a bummer. Thank you for letting me know. I am going to update my list for this summer.
Oh no! My kids have done the TD Bank Summer Reading Program for the last 5-6 years. What a shame.
I know. It really is. I thought their program would be a fixture for this company. I am sorry.
Hey there! Thanks for this list. I am a K4 – 4th elementary library media specialist and this is helpful. However, the info for TD Bank is from last year and I can’t get confirmation that they are doing it this year. You might want to check in to that and update.
Hi Susannah, Thanks so MUCH for your comment. I did reached out to all those who participated last year to confirm participation this year. TD Bank has verbally confirmed that they are participating this year (2017), however their website information doesn’t reflect that they are. If you wish to confirm as well, feel free to reach out to them. Here is that phone number 1-888-751-9000. Have a wonderful day.
Rockland trust bank has a summer reading program grades 1-8.
AWESOME!!! Thank you Chloe for adding that in!