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
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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:
- Summer Learning Kickoff Week
June 5 - June 10
Patrick Beaver Memorial Library - All Together Now Puzzle Piece Mural
June 1 - June 30
Decorate puzzle piece cutouts to show what our Summer Learning theme “All Together Now” means to you. Puzzle pieces and art supplies are available at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library upstairs in The Learning Lab. - Summer Learning Resource Fair
June 2, 2023
Conover City Park - Summer Kickoff Party (Sherrills Ford-Terrell)
June 3, 11 AM - Summer Reading Kickoff!
Caldwell County Public Library, Lenior
Bring the whole family and come touch a truck!
June 3rd, 11 AM - Summer Reading Kickoff
Southern Branch Library (Granite Falls)
June 3, All Day - Summer Learning Kickoff & Sign Up: DIY BOOK BAGS
June 5, 2023
Patrick Beaver Memorial Library - Summer Reading Kickoff
June 5, 2023
CB Hildebrand Public Library
Summer Learning Kickoff & Sign-up: DIY book bags
June 5, 2023
Ridgeview Branch Library - Summer Learning Kickoff & Sign-up: DIY Book Bags
June 7, 2023
Patrick Beaver Memorial Library - Teen Summer Learning Kickoff & Sign-up: DIY book bags
June 10, 2023
Patrick Beaver Memorial Library - Summer Reading Kickoff
June 12, 2023
Morganton and Valdese Public Libraries - Summer Reading Kickoff
BIG BANG BOOM CONCERT
Statesville Branch Library
June 12, 2023 - Summer Reading Kickoff
BIG BANG BOOM CONCERT
Harmony Branch Library
June 12, 2023 - Summer Reading Kickoff
BIG BANG BOOM CONCERT
Troutman Branch Library
June 12, 2023
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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 email! Like 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!
