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    Home » Blog » Reading with Kids

    5 Fun Summer Reading Programs for Kids

    Published: Jun 6, 2018 · Modified: Feb 27, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A photo collage of book covers.

    These fun summer reading programs for kids will help prevent summer slide. Keep your kids motivated to read all summer long with these simple reading challenges, fantastic summer book lists for both kids and moms, and great tips for making time to read this season.

    A young girl reads a picture book during summer break.

    For the last several years, my girls and I have participated in our local library's summer reading program for kids.

    They earn simple rewards and it gave us an excuse for a weekly trip to the library to freshen our stash of picture books and early chapter books for kids.

    If you haven't tried a summer reading challenge with your kids, I thought this list of reading programs might help inspire you and your family to read a little more this season.

    But that's not all. If you really want your kids to read more this summer, learn what you can do to keep them motivated and get all the best book suggestions to get you through an epic summer of reading!!

    Jump to:
    • The Best Summer Reading Programs for Kids
    • 1. Your Local Library
    • 2. Barnes & Noble
    • 3. Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
    • 4. Create Your Own
    • 5. Little Kid Book + Activity Challenge
    • Summer Book Lists for Kids
    • Summer Book Lists for Moms
    • How to Make Time for Reading
    • 💬 Comments

    The Best Summer Reading Programs for Kids

    5 fun summer reading programs for kids (and their moms, too!)

    1. Your Local Library

    We've done our library program every year.

    We're lucky to have one that features a web site dashboard for logging the books and simple rewards like Wendy's coupons and free books.

    Be sure to check out your library system to see what they offer.

    For friends in the Charlotte metro area, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library system has their own challenge.

    2. Barnes & Noble

    For kids in grades 1 - 6, Barnes & Noble offers an in-store reading challenge where your kids can earn a free book.

    If you stop by your local store in May, they usually have a free printable reading tracker available in the children's books department.

    Fill it out over the summer and bring it back to the store for your reward.

    3. Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge

    We are big Scholastic book fair fans and happy to participate in any reading challenge they offer!

    Unfortunately, I don't think just any student can sign up for this reading challenge on their own but it looks like it could be a great program if your school has signed up to participate.

    Double check with your teachers to see if your school is participating and then you can sign up here.

    4. Create Your Own

    Even if you've signed the kids up for one of the other challenges on this list, why not make it a little more fun at home?

    You can set up your own Mom's Summer Reading Challenge for your kids.

    Check out this adorable free printable book log idea here. Use it as a guide to set your reading goal and how you plan to count each book.

    Will it be by pages read? Books finished? Minutes spent? You know your child best.

    Pro Tip: I still do this every summer with my teens, we just adjust the prizes at the end of the challenge to make it something that motivates them a little bit more!

    5. Little Kid Book + Activity Challenge

    For the younger kids, Melissa & Doug partnered with Brightly to create a fun printable reading challenge that features activity ideas based on books for you to do with the kids.

    Get the printable here.

    Summer Book Lists for Kids

    Now that your kids are motivated to read more for their reading program challenge, what books are you going to have available??

    Here are a few of our favorite summer reading lists for kids:

    • A stack of middle grade fiction books with a Kindle reader on top.
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    • A photo collage of book covers that are good to read aloud to 8 year olds.
      Read Aloud Books Your 8-Year-Old Won't Be Able to Put Down
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      Read Aloud Books for 9-Year-Olds
    • The photo collage shows the covers of several audiobooks for families.
      14 Best Audiobooks for Families
    • A photo collage shows several best classic books for kids.
      18 Classic Books for Kids Every Home Needs
    • A photo collage shows several books turned into movies.
      18 Books to Movies to Enjoy with Your Daughter
    • FREE book club kit for The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place {VIDEOS}
    • A copy of the illustrated Harry Potter book is on the table.
      What Is the Perfect Age for Harry Potter?

    Summer Book Lists for Moms

    Listen, "do as I say and not as I do" is not the best parenting strategy, right?

    If you really want your kids to participate in a summer reading program, the very best thing you can do is lead by example.

    This summer, be sure you are making time to read for YOU, too! If you really need help with motivation, print this FREE book bingo card for adults and use it to create your own Parent Summer Reading Program!

    • A girl lays on a bed reading a book.
      You Want Smart Kids but Are You Doing This?

    If you want your kids to grow up to be readers, show them how reading can be an important part of your grown-up routine.

    Make time to sit down and let them see you reading a copy of one of these fantastic summer books:

    • Book Club Book Ideas for Summer
    • A collage of fun beach reads for summer.
      Best Beach Reads for Summer
    • Fantasy books that are great for reading during the summer.
      6 Magical Beach Reads for Summer
    • How to Waterproof Books for Summer Reading

    How to Make Time for Reading

    Just like young moms are told to nap when their babies are sleeping, moms of all ages should read while their kids are reading, too!

    Pour a glass of lemonade, rinse a bowl of fresh berries, sit down and enjoy yourself for 15 minutes. Not only will you be happier, your kids will learn this vital habit, too!

    • A bundle of books tied with twine has a pink carnation tucked in.
      15 Reasons Why It Is Important to Read
    • A book called "How to Stop Time" is next to a watch.
      12 Ways to Take Time to Read Books
    • A book pile in a windowsill by a plant.
      How to Read More Books
    • Piles of book club books sit on a set of stairs
      Best Online Book Club for Busy Women

    More Reading with Kids

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      8 Halloween Movies Based on Books {Not Too Scary}
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      10 Essential Chapter Books for Girls
    • A photo collage shows several chapter books for boys.
      10 Essential Chapter Books for Boys
    • A collage shows the covers of several First Communion books for kids.
      Fantastic Books for First Communion

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. How to combat summer slide and get fewer arguments from the kids says:
      June 24, 2020 at 8:24 am

      […] 5 amazingly fun summer reading programs kids will love […]

      Reply
    2. How to host the cutest children's book club party says:
      August 1, 2019 at 3:21 pm

      […] 5 amazingly fun summer reading programs kids will love […]

      Reply
    3. 16 summer reading challenge books you need right now says:
      June 9, 2018 at 10:07 am

      […] Are your kids participating in a summer reading challenge? Here’s a great list of books to keep them reading all summer long, I dare you to not steal them from your kids! If you need inspiration for where to find a reading challenge, don’t miss our favorite summer reading programs here. […]

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

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