Summer reading programs are a great incentive to keep kids reading during the Summer months. Students who read over the summer break tend to avoid the “Summer Slide”, or Summer learning loss. Students should be reading at least 10-20 minutes each day, and adults should be reading to non-readers for the same amount of time (or more!).
The good news is that kids tend to respond well to incentives, so reluctant readers may be willing to read to earn rewards gift cards, free food, prizes, and more! Most of the programs require a similar amount of reading, so they can qualify for multiple program rewards. Check out our list of Summer Reading Programs below!
Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program
Download and print a Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program Reading Journal from the website for each child in grades 1-6. Kids are encouraged to read any 8 books and fill out their Reading Journals about each book.
Once completed, bring the journals to any B&N store between July 1- August 31, 2020. Kids can choose a FREE reading adventure from the book list featured on the back of the journal.
“Feed Your Brain” Summer Reading Program with Half Price Books
Half Price Books is going virtual in 2020.
The virtual “Feed Your Brain” Summer Reading Program rewards kids 14 and under for reading for 15 minutes per day in June and July. Grown-ups may read out loud for kids who are still learning to read. Complete your reading long and share online for the chance to earn prizes. They are also hosting contests throughout the summer to earn gift cards, such as a book review contest in early June.
Rusty Bucket Bucketeer Bookworms
Rusty Bucket Bucketeer Bookworms program encourages elementary school students in grades K-6 to read. Families can now pick a Bookmark Tracker at any Rusty Bucket Ohio location and start reading.
Young readers track their books on the back of the bookmark. After every five books read, kids receive a complimentary kid’s meal with an adult entrée purchase (dine-in only). Note: This program runs year round!
The Scholastic Read-a-Palooza Summer Reading Challenge
The Scholastic Read-a-Palooza Summer Reading Challenge is a free program to help prevent the effects of the summer slide—the learning losses that can occur during the summer months.
Over the course of 18 weeks, kids can enter their summer reading minutes online, unlocking digital rewards as they complete weekly reading challenges; and access book excerpts, videos, and other summer-exclusive content. Kids can enter minutes from Monday, May 4 until Friday, September 4, 2020. Printable resources such at book lists, reading pledges, and minute trackers are available online.
Once participating kids reach 25, then 50 and then 100 million minutes collectively read in the Summer Reading Challenge, Scholastic will donate a minimum of 200,000 books to kids in need across the United States! The participants are at over 4 million minutes at the time of publishing.
Library Reading Programs
Columbus Metropolitan Library System Virtual Summer Reading Challenge
The online Summer Reading Challenge starts May 30 to encourage people of all ages to read, from babies to adults to earn prizes! Summer Reading Challenge reading minutes and Reading Bingo activities must be completed and entered online by August 1 via website or summer reading app.
Login at columbuslibrary.org/summerreading OR Download the Summer Reading Challenge app, powered by READsquared:
Pickerington Public Library Summer Reading 2020
“Summer Reading 2020: Imagine Your Story” begins June 8 through August 8. Register beginning June 8 for Summer Reading, which runs through August 8. Participants can earn toys, coupons, and free books as well as raffle tickets for grand prize packages. E
Track reading, get book recommendations, complete missions, and play minigames on READsquared, their new virtual reading platform, available via both app and web browser. Earn points by logging reading activity and completing missions, then collect virtual and real-world prizes as you level up. Play literacy-building games, explore reading lists curated by Pickerington Public Library staff, and see what other users are reading. At the end of the program, download a personalized certificate to celebrate your progress!
If you would like to participate in Summer Reading but have limited technology access, please call them at 614-837-4104 to learn about alternate opportunities.
Check out other virtual and at-home summer fun with Pickerington Public Library on their Facebook page.
Delaware County District Library Summer Reading Club
Summer Reading Club 2020: Imagine Your Story program and virtual events run from June 1 – July 24. Children ages 0-17 are encouraged to read 12 hours throughout the summer, collecting prizes once they reach six- and 12-hour benchmarks. Adults are encouraged to read books or attend library programs. Any combination of four books read or programs attended will earn participants a prize.
Find your reading log in the summer “Check it Out” newsletter and on the website. If you can’t print off a reading log, just keep track of every 15 minutes, or write it down on any piece of paper.
Check the Events page for events created for the age groups and interests in your household. Many virtual events will require advanced registration.
Prizes: Stay tuned for how to claim your prize.
– Young readers will have their choice between two “Imagine Your Story” notebook designs in a variety of colors, stuffed with local coupons, for their six-hour prize. Readers finishing 12-hours will earn a book of their choice to keep. Limit one six-hour and 12-hour prize per reader, please.
– Adults finishing their reading/program challenge will earn a glass water bottle in a protective silicone case. Additional entries will go into a drawing for a gift card, awarded at the end of the summer.
Pataskala Public Library Summer Reading Program
The 2020 Summer Reading Program is June 1 and goes through July 13. There are separate programs for 3 age groups.
K-5 “20 for 2020 Read and Bead” Summer Reading programRead (or listen) for 20 minutes a day on 20 days this summer to add to your reading log, and try 20 different activities. You’ll earn 20 beads to put on your Reading Brag Tag Necklace. Starting on June 1, Summer Reading Bags are available with curbside pickup, and contain reading log, activity sheet, necklace, Brag Tag, and other goodies. There will be virtual events through the program (see flyer), and you can claim your 20 Summer Reading Beads through curbside pickup starting on July 13.
Teen Summer Reading Program; grade 6-12
Fill out an entry form for each book, magazine, or graphic novel you read. Twenty winners will be chosen at random for great prizes including gift cards, ear buds, water bottles, and more and will be notified on July 14th by phone or email.
Adult Summer Reading Program for adults age 18 & up
Fill out an entry form for each book, magazine, or graphic novel you read (or listen to) and you’ll be eligible for a $25 gift card for local businesses. Ten winners will be chosen at random from all entries received during this period, and will be notified by email or phone on Tuesday, July 14th. Prizes provided by the Friends of the Pataskala Library.
Westerville Public Library Summer Reading Program
Join the Read and Imagine Summer Reading Program with the Westerville Public Library. Register and log your progress between May 22 and August 2, 2020. Virtual events will be held through the program.
- Ages 0-17: Set your reading goal, then challenge yourself to meet it. Meet your goal = earn a book beginning July 1
- Ages 18+: Read books, listen to audiobooks or read aloud to others. Meet your goal and choose a canvas bag or blank notebook.
Everyone who meets their goals will be entered into drawing for grand prizes based on age range, including gift baskets and gift cards.
Worthington Libraries Summer Reading Club
The Summer Reading Club kicks off May 20, 2020. Join the Magic Unbound: A Summer Reading Quest through July 20. Earn prizes based on the amount of time you spend reading and/or completing DIY activities. Fill in one stone on your Reading Record for reading for the required time for your age group, or completing DIY activities.
Kids and teens can choose a book to keep once they complete the reading record. Adults can choose between a Worthington Farmers Market canvas tote OR A $10 Worthington Resource Pantry donation in your name. Kids and teens who complete their summer reading quest will be entered into grand prize drawings. Kids could get bikes, teens are eligible for Target gift cards! Prize winner names will be drawn later this summer. Winners have two weeks to claim their prize.
Upper Arlington Public Library Summer Library Club
Imagine your Story Summer Reading Club is from June 1 – July 31. Summer Reading Club is for everyone! There is no age limit, no cost and no library card required. Register your household to get started.
Download the reading log and mark each day you read between June 1–July 31. They recommend 15-20 minutes per day but feel free to set your own goals. You are also welcome to use your own calendar, design one to use as a log or use this template to color your own. If you read for 15 days or more, you earn a free book! To claim your book prize, please bring your reading log to the Main Library (Tremont) anytime during the month of August.
Participate in the Weekly Challenges posted on the website and social media channels each Monday throughout Summer Reading Club for a chance to win a gift card to fun, local places like The Goodie Shop, Cover to Cover, Graeter’s and more! One entry per person per week, and for each entry you will be able to choose which gift card drawing you’d like to enter. Drawings for all gift cards will be held on August 1, 2020 and winners will be contacted by email or phone.
Bexley Public Library Summer Community Read
The Summer Community Read “Imagine your Story” runs from June 1 – July 31. For details on our programs visit the calendar of events found here.
Track your reading in one of two ways:
– Track your summer reading and be entered to win raffle prizes with the new online reading tracker application, READsquared.
– Keep track of your reading by downloading the online PDF version of the physical tracker found here.
Marysville Public Library Summer Reading Program
Summer Reading Program, Imagine Your Story, is June 1 through July 31. Visit the Library to get a Reading Log, or download a Reading Log here. See website for featured activities and suggested reading, and details on the summer lunch program (website)
Keep track of how much time you read/listen to a book, and check off/ color a leaf for each day you read.
Have fun and complete different BINGO activities to complete the second half of your reading log! Each BINGO gets you an entry into our raffle for gift cards from local businesses!
After 28 days of reading, return your reading log to the library or email your completed log to mplyouth@marysvillelib.org, and receive a FREE book for finishing the Summer Reading Program!
Grandview Heights Public Library Virtual Summer Reading Club
Join the online Summer Reading Club (June 1 – August 1), and you could win prizes for reading this summer!
Download the Summer Reading Club app to get started, or use your computer to register.
- Adults: Read for a chance to win great prizes from local businesses. The more you read, the better your chances of winning!
- Kids: You may be at home, but you will still be able to earn great prizes by meeting your reading goals, participating in programs, and completing weekly challenges.
Licking County Library System Summer Library Program Reimagined
The Summer Library Program Reimagined runs from June 1 – July 25.
Pick-up a Reading tracker at a Summer Station located on the outside of the main entrance of all LCL locations (including the 24-Hour Kiosks), print off a copy, make your own reading tracker using stickers, crayons, or whatever you have available to you to create 6 reading benchmarks and your raffle prize selection list. Return your Reading Tracker by July 25 at a Summer Station location on the outside of the main entrance of all LCL locations (including the 24-Hour Kiosks), or email a scan or photo of your Reading Tracker and Grand Prize Selection List to info@lickingcountylibrary.org
Granville Public Library
Imagine Your Story Summer Library Program 2020 runs from July 1 – July 25. Granville and Licking County residents are invited to sign up for the Summer Library Program online or by downloading the Beanstack Tracking app for your smartphone.
Children’s, Teen, and Adult Summer Library programs will all be online. Earn raffle tickets for reading and attending online programs. All end of season prized can only be mailed to addresses in Licking County. Go to https://GranvilleLibrary.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack app through your app store. You will be walked through the steps to register and sign-up for challenges. Program registration is required for Zoom events through the library website’s event calendar.
School and Classroom Reading Programs
Attention teachers! There are a couple of programs that allow you to reward your students for reading! Parents – if your child’s classroom isn’t participating in these programs, make sure you let the teacher know they are available to individual classrooms.
Book It!
If you were a child of the 80’s or after, you may have participated in the Pizza Hut Book It! program as a student yourself. I still remember exactly what my Book It! pin looked like. It was purple and had spaces above a rainbow for a star sticker to be added each time I earned a reward.
The current program runs from October-March and is open to educators of students K-6 in home school, public, private and charter schools. Set a reading goal for each child in your class based on their ability. When they meet their monthly goal, you get to recognize them with a Reading Award Certificate, good for a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza®. BOOK IT! materials are always free to schools. Enrollment begins in March prior to the upcoming school year.
Chipotle Reading Rewards
Chipotle Reading Rewards is a program that awards students who complete reading challenges with FREE Chipotle kid’s meals. The month-long reading challenge is only open to each school once per school year, based on approval, and applications are prioritized for applications in which the entire school is participating.
Looking for other local options? Many fast food restaurant franchises will donate coupons for free items for classrooms if you ask!
Chuck E. Cheese’s Reading Rewards Calendar
Chuck E. Cheese offers reward calendars and behavior charts to encourage kids to reach specific goals, Track progress on these printable incentive charts by marking the days off with a pen or sticker as your kids accomplish their goals. Bring in a completed calendar or behavior chart to Chuck E. Cheese’s and receive 10 free play points or tokens as a reward.
Among many options, they offer a Reading Rewards Calendar (English and Spanish). Note: Chuck E Cheese is not currently open this summer, but these incentive charts run year round!
Story Times in Columbus
NOTE: Story times are not being held in person, but many libraries are hosting virtual story times.
Story time is a great way to get even the youngest tot interested in books and reading, and many programs are year round! We’ve gathered a list of story times in Columbus for kids! Note that some story times differ during the summer, so be sure to check the links before you go.
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