Published: by Meagan on | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
If you’re looking for summer reading programs for kids, this is our comprehensive list of all the completely FREE programs!
{Looking for other fun summer deals? Kids can bowl for free and skate for free at many participating locations this summer!
Believe it or not, it’s almost that time of year again — when school is out and summer reading programs abound. Yay! (Well, some of you might not be saying “yay!”, but we do because my kids have always LOVED them some summer reading programs!)
Note: We recommend calling your local stores to verify that they’re participating in these programs this year.
Free Summer Reading Programs 2022
Do your kids love to read, too? If so, this is our big list of all the FREE summer reading programs that are available nationally!
Barnes & Noble— Earn a free book through the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program for kids in grades 1-6.
Read any eight books this summer and record them in your Summer Reading Journal (PDF download). Explain which part of the book is your favorite, and why.
Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between July 1st and August 31st, 2022.
Receive a FREE BOOK of your choice from the selection on the Reading Journal list.
Chuck E. Cheese — Kids can fill out their Reading Rewards Calendar when they read every day for two weeks, and then trade it in for 10 FREE play points at your local Chuck E. Cheese location.
Half Price Books — Starting June 1st, Half Price Books is hosting Summer Reading Camp for kids 14 or younger. Kids are encoruageed to read 15 minutes per day to reach a total of at least 300 minutes. After that, they can turn in their completed reading log to their local store to earn Bookworm Bucks to spend. Each week they will also offer fun new printable activity sheets of all kinds!
H-E-B — For Texas residents only. Read any ten books and record them on your reading log to score a free prize! Once the log is complete, mail the form to the address listed, and you’ll be rewarded with a special prize. Note one of the books read must be a Read 3 book.
Pizza Hut Camp Book It — In addition to their annual school year program, Pizza Hut also has their summer reading program called Camp Book it! Simply track your child’s reading during June, July, and August. Once they reach their monthly reading goal, they can redeem for a free one-topping personal pizza at Pizza Hut!
Local Libraries — Above all, don’t forget about your local library! Most of them offer fun summer reading programs with prizes and more.
Looking for a fun way to encourage and motivate your kids to read more? Or need a creative way for your kids to keep track of all the books they read through summer reading programs this year?
Be sure to download our FREE Kid’s Summer Reading Printable Pack! It comes with a reading challenge, reading time tracker, and fill-in-the-blank summer reading list.
Do you know of any other Summer Reading Programs we should add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
Reader Interactions
Money Saving Mom® Comment Policy
We love comments from readers, so chime in with your thoughts below! We do our best to keep this blog upbeat and encouraging, so please keep your comments cordial and kind.Read more information on our comment policy.
Janet Lsays
Waterford Upstart is a free online PreK reading program, backed with decades of research, that teaches early literacy and in some states, math and science. Families receive everything they need, including access to fun and interactive software, expert coaching and support, and even a computer and internet in participating regions. All at no cost. We are enrolling now for the fall. Go here to see if you qualify in your state: https://www.waterford.org/upstart
Oliviasays
Oh wow! Sounds like such a great program! Thanks SO much for sharing! -Olivia, MSM Team
Emilysays
Half Price Books will launch a new program this year on 5/31 called the Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp. You can find all the details here: http://www.hpb.com/summer.
Megsays
Oh, thank you so much for that info!! -Meg, MSM Team
Lisasays
The Good and the Beautiful homeschool curriculum has a program where you pay 99 cents shipping and handling to receive a sticker chart, bookmark and free book as an incentive. We’ve really enjoyed the books they offer for each grade level. https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/products/summer-reading-program/
Jordansays
Thanks for the suggestion! That’s a great deal! -Jordan, MSM Team
Melindasays
Book it also does a summer reading program as well.
Jordansays
Yes, that’s a great one as well! -Jordan, MSM Team
Melissa Mendozasays
The Amazon summer reading program only gives you $1 off of a book, not a free book.
Jordansays
Thank you so much for pointing that out! We will update the post! -Jordan, MSM Team
Jennifersays
Hi! Thanks so much for your list. My daughters LOVE summer reading programs/challenges, so we always try to participate in as many as possible. Wanted to let you know that we just checked in with TD Bank, as their form posted online is last year’s form, and they told us that they discontinued the summer reading challenge for 2020. Not sure if it is a result of the pandemic, but they are not offering the summer reading program/challenge this year, according to their corporate offices. Bummer!! 😊
Megsays
Oh, thank you for letting us know! We’ll update the post! -Meg, MSM Team
Nikkisays
B&N link is 2019 not 2020 as is TDBank. Got me all excited and ready to go for nothing…
Megsays
Sorry about that! One of the B&N links was incorrect, but it’s been updated now. The TDBank form is from 2019, because they haven’t updated it yet. But they do it every year and it typically starts on June 1st. I’m betting they’ll change out the form after that date! They haven’t taken down their landing page for it, so I’m sure it’ll still be running this year! -Meg, MSM Team
We will definitely have to look into those- my kid loved filling her reading log during school so I’m sure summer will be no different!
Annesays
Is it okay to read 8 books for one reading program and use those same reading minutes for another reading program? Just wondering what you think about that (or should kids use different reading minutes for different reading programs).
Valoriesays
Personally, I will use them for both. I use the actual books for the Barnes and Noble program, and the minutes read from those books in our local library program. I see them as different incentives.
One awards time read, the other book completion. Plus at B&N they get a prize (book). Out library gives raffle tickets toward prize baskets. So it’s not like I’m just trying to collect “every available freebie.”
Hannahsays
Mine is still young enough that we read a book every night before bed, so we more than read enough books for multiple programs.
Karensays
If you are participating in your local library’s program, they generally require that the books read come from their library. Grants usually fund at least part of the program and increased circulation is one of the ways they can show that recieving the grant has made a difference.
Leasays
You may want to check with your local library on this. While I’m sure they prefer you use the library books, ours is more interested in building a habit of reading. Any book is fine. I don’t think ours are funded by grants (the prizes are donated), so that may be the difference.
The Book Farm, Inc. has summer reading storytimes. “We are happy to announce extended summer hours for our Outlet Store this summer We will be hosting five free ‘Just for kids’ events this summer. Each will be one hour long and include a read-a-loud story, an activity, a free take home surprise for each child who attends and special event discounts on books. These events rotate between weekday evenings and Saturday mornings to better fit busy summer schedules. Although geared for early readers there will be something for all readers to enjoy. https://www.thebookfarminc.com/Summer-Events-at-The-Book-Farm-Outlet-Store.html
Waterford Upstart is a free online PreK reading program, backed with decades of research, that teaches early literacy and in some states, math and science. Families receive everything they need, including access to fun and interactive software, expert coaching and support, and even a computer and internet in participating regions. All at no cost. We are enrolling now for the fall. Go here to see if you qualify in your state: https://www.waterford.org/upstart
Oh wow! Sounds like such a great program! Thanks SO much for sharing! -Olivia, MSM Team
Half Price Books will launch a new program this year on 5/31 called the Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp. You can find all the details here: http://www.hpb.com/summer.
Oh, thank you so much for that info!! -Meg, MSM Team
The Good and the Beautiful homeschool curriculum has a program where you pay 99 cents shipping and handling to receive a sticker chart, bookmark and free book as an incentive. We’ve really enjoyed the books they offer for each grade level. https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/products/summer-reading-program/
Thanks for the suggestion! That’s a great deal! -Jordan, MSM Team
Book it also does a summer reading program as well.
Yes, that’s a great one as well! -Jordan, MSM Team
The Amazon summer reading program only gives you $1 off of a book, not a free book.
Thank you so much for pointing that out! We will update the post! -Jordan, MSM Team
Hi! Thanks so much for your list. My daughters LOVE summer reading programs/challenges, so we always try to participate in as many as possible. Wanted to let you know that we just checked in with TD Bank, as their form posted online is last year’s form, and they told us that they discontinued the summer reading challenge for 2020. Not sure if it is a result of the pandemic, but they are not offering the summer reading program/challenge this year, according to their corporate offices. Bummer!! 😊
Oh, thank you for letting us know! We’ll update the post! -Meg, MSM Team
B&N link is 2019 not 2020 as is TDBank. Got me all excited and ready to go for nothing…
Sorry about that! One of the B&N links was incorrect, but it’s been updated now. The TDBank form is from 2019, because they haven’t updated it yet. But they do it every year and it typically starts on June 1st. I’m betting they’ll change out the form after that date! They haven’t taken down their landing page for it, so I’m sure it’ll still be running this year! -Meg, MSM Team
We will definitely have to look into those- my kid loved filling her reading log during school so I’m sure summer will be no different!
Is it okay to read 8 books for one reading program and use those same reading minutes for another reading program? Just wondering what you think about that (or should kids use different reading minutes for different reading programs).
Personally, I will use them for both. I use the actual books for the Barnes and Noble program, and the minutes read from those books in our local library program. I see them as different incentives.
One awards time read, the other book completion. Plus at B&N they get a prize (book). Out library gives raffle tickets toward prize baskets. So it’s not like I’m just trying to collect “every available freebie.”
Mine is still young enough that we read a book every night before bed, so we more than read enough books for multiple programs.
If you are participating in your local library’s program, they generally require that the books read come from their library. Grants usually fund at least part of the program and increased circulation is one of the ways they can show that recieving the grant has made a difference.
You may want to check with your local library on this. While I’m sure they prefer you use the library books, ours is more interested in building a habit of reading. Any book is fine. I don’t think ours are funded by grants (the prizes are donated), so that may be the difference.
Lea
The Book Farm, Inc. has summer reading storytimes. “We are happy to announce extended summer hours for our Outlet Store this summer We will be hosting five free ‘Just for kids’ events this summer. Each will be one hour long and include a read-a-loud story, an activity, a free take home surprise for each child who attends and special event discounts on books. These events rotate between weekday evenings and Saturday mornings to better fit busy summer schedules. Although geared for early readers there will be something for all readers to enjoy.
https://www.thebookfarminc.com/Summer-Events-at-The-Book-Farm-Outlet-Store.html
Thanks SO much for sharing!! -Meg, MSM Team
TD Bank http://www.tdbank.com/summerreading/
The restaurant Meatheads has a reading program as well. Below is the link:
https://www.meatheadsburgers.com/cowmunity/voracious-reading-program/
Thanks for sharing! -Meg, MSM Team