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Summer Reading Programs at Local Libraries (and more!)

By Carla W; Boy Mom³, Hickory Macaroni Kid Publisher May 24, 2023

Summer reading is hugely important for students of all ages. The benefits of reading, as well as being read to, are undeniable. It is critical for reading to continue over the summer to sustain the progress they’ve made over the school year, and since we're all still playing end-of-the-world catch up, its more important than ever. Did you know a student reading twenty minutes a day at home will hear on average 1.8 million words per year. Thankfully, there are so many Summer Reading programs to help encourage and motivate young readers during the summer months. Here are some of the programs we've found, and some tips to help you make the most of them! 

All Together Now
 Summer Reading Programs at your Local Library





This year your local library celebrates the joy of reading with the 2023 Summer Reading  "All Together Now."  Students sign up, log what they're reading, and win some prizes! Our local libraries have some fun activities scheduled throughout the summer, so be sure to check out the Events Calendar or our Library Guide for more information on individual events. 

Children, teens, AND adults are encouraged to participate in our reading challenges and to complete at least 600 minutes of reading over the summer. Prizes are up for grabs, both for folks who register to participate and for those who complete 600 minutes of reading. Prizes will also be awarded to children at the 200 and 400 minute marks to encourage summer-long participation. Visit your local library to register! Read more about it here!


 Summer Reading Events: 




Barnes and Noble

Children rising 1st grade through 6th grade have the opportunity to earn a free book by reading any 8 books this summer. Download and print your Barns & Noble Summer Reading Journal, log your read books, and redeemed them at your local Banes and Noble. Journals can only be redeemed between July 1 and August 31st, 2023. Print your summer reading journal here

Chuck E Cheese's

Download and print the reading rewards calendar, bring it to Chuck E Cheese, and receive 10 Free Play Points! Click here for English, and here for Spanish! 

Pizza Hut

Join Camp BOOKIT and earn a free pizza! Parents can sign up and track their child's progress online without any forms. Students may redeem one Reading Award Certificate per month, and the certificate must be used to reward the student who earned it. When a child redeems their Reading Award Certificate with Pizza Hut, they are celebrated with a one-topping Personal Pan Pizza.

Scholastic Summer Reading Program 
Running from May 4th to September 7, 2023, the Scholastic Summer Reading program Home Base offers kids an exciting, free, and safe summer reading experience, while helping to provide books to kids with limited or no access over the summer, keeping every child reading. 

SYNC Audiobook Program for Teens
AudiobookSYNC is a summer program of FREE audiobooks for teens 13+. Two audiobooks are available each week through the Sora reading app. April 27 - August 2, 2023.


Tips to Encourage your Readers at home!

  •  Utilize your local Library!
    Make visiting your local library part of your regular summer routine. Visiting your library weekly or every other week helps to keep kids engaged in reading. While most kids do plently of reading during the school year, they don't always get to read the books they like. Summer reading can be fun simply because students get to choose their reading material- let them pick out books on topics that they're interested in. 
  • Make a daily time for reading
    Set aside 20 or 30 minutes a day for reading. Everyone can sit down with their books and read together. Mom and dad too! We like to have a reading time in addition to our bed time reading time. 
  • Create a cool Reading Nook
    Having a place in your home (or outside!) dedicated to quiet reading time makes reading feel more like something kids WANT to do, rather than something they HAVE to do. Your reading nook can be as simple as some blankets and pillows tossed into a corner, or blanket laid out under a tree in your back yard. 
  • READ TO THEM
    Yes, he is 10 years old. Yes, she can read for herself. Read to them anyway. Reading to children provides many benefits no matter what the age is. It fosters literacy, builds bonds, promotes critical thinking and more. 

Do you know of other programs not listed? Please send me an emailLike this article? Macaroni Kid Hickory/Western Piedmont is full of useful local information like this PLUS tons of kid-friendly events on our event calendar.  Subscribe to our FREE weekly e-newsletter!