Summer reading programs can help to keep kids learning and growing through the summer. And without the pressure of school assignments, they have the freedom to explore their own interests through literature.
Here are several reading programs that encourage kids to keep reading, and some even offer prizes and rewards.
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- Big list of indoor play areas
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- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free museum days in the Charlotte area
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Summer Break
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Summer Break has kids, teens and adults logging their reading and activity time. The program runs from June 1st to July 31, 2023.
Everyone who signs up will receive a free Wendy’s Jr. Frosty and a Charlotte FC and Library branded sticker. A 4-pack of tickets to a Charlotte FC match will be awarded to one program completer at each Library location. The winner will be randomly selected.)
The program challenges each person to earn 1200 points, 600 of which must come from reading. That would be at least 10 hours of reading, plus other activities.
Learn more about Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Summer Break.
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble’s Summer Reading Program encourages kids to keep reading by offering a downloadable and printable Summer Reading Journal, in both English and Spanish. Kids read any eight books, write down the titles and their favorite part of each book.
Then they bring the journal back to Barnes & Noble and choose one free book as a reward. There are about 10 free books to choose from for each age group. The program is for kids in grades 1-6. The journals must be turned in between July 1st and August 31st, 2023, for a free book.
Learn more about Barnes & Noble’s Summer Reading Program.
Books-a-Million Summer Reading Adventure
Kids can read any four books from the Summer Reading Adventure list, which you can find online or in-store. Then fill out the log, which just asks for the title of each book, your favorite character, and the best part of the story. Bring in the log to the store and get a Eragon themed water bottle, while supplies last.
More information about Books-a-Million Summer Reading Adventure.
The Camp Book It Program with Pizza Hut
Parents of kids in PreK-6th grade can enroll in Camp Book It. In June, July, and August, parents use digital tools to track their kids’ reading. When kids meet their reading goals, they are rewarded with a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut.
Learn more about Camp Book It.
Scholastic Summer Reading Program
Scholastic runs its Summer Reading Program from May 4 to September 7, 2023. Kids can visit the summer zone in Scholastic Home Base and create an account, allow them to join a community of readers, attend author events, play book-based games and more. As kids keep up their reading streak they can earn more digital experiences. By maintaining their reading streaks, they also help to unlock a donation of 100,000 books from Scholastic to Save the Children, an organization that provides books to children who have limited or no access to books.
Learn more about the Scholastic Summer Reading Program.
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New to Charlotte on the Cheap? You might also be interested in:
- Signing up for Charlotte on the Cheap’s daily email
- Big list of indoor play areas
- Outdoor movies
- Upcoming free and cheap events for kids
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free museum days in the Charlotte area
More Events for Kids
Check out our huge list of upcoming events for kids in the Charlotte area, or look at a few of them here:
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