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Encourage Reading All Summer Long

Summer Readings Programs in Tucson and Online

By East Tucson Macaroni Kid April 3, 2023

Whether your child is an avid reader or is reluctant to pick up a book, there are local, national, and online reading programs and incentives that will help keep kids motivated to read all summer long! 

Pima County Library's Summer Reading Program: Imagine your Story! The 2020 Summer Learning Program encourages children to read for 20 minutes a day or more. Children can track their progress on paper (download and print a tracker HERE) or online using the ReadSquared App. Kids can also create their own stories and submit them to the library through the Story Sketches program. Stories may be chosen to be shared on the Library's YouTube Channel! Learn more about how children can submit stories this summer HERE

Heroes & Villains Summer Reading Club: Children 12 and under can pick up a personal reading tracker at Heroes & Villains and read an all-ages graphic novel for an hour every week during the months of June and July. When children finish off each month, they will get one FREE book of their choice (up to a $10 maximum)! In order to maintain social distancing, you must sign up for a specific time to go into the store to share your child's progress. 

Bookmans Kids Club: This program isn't just for summer, but now is as good a time as any to sign up! Enroll your child (birth through age 12) in Bookmans Kids Club at any time of year, and get 10% off of anything in the stores. Also, your child will get at $10 Bookmans gift certificate on their birthday.  

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program: Kids in 1st-6th grades can participate and earn a FREE book. Here is how it works:
  1. Read any 8 books this summer and record them in the Summer Reading Journal
  2. Bring the completed journal to a local Barnes & Noble store between July 1 and August 31, 2020.
  3. Choose a FREE book from the selection on the Reading Journal list at Barnes & Noble and listed on the back of the journal.

Camp Book-It from Pizza Hut: Kids can track their reading during June, July, and August and they will earn a Personal Pan Pizza® when they meet their goals. Plus, there are other fun activities and book recommendations to keep kids motivated. 

Scholastic Summer Read-A-Palooza (TM): The Scholastic "Read-A-Palooza" challenge is a free, on-line reading incentive program that runs from May 4 through Sept. 4, 2020. Kids can log their reading minutes online, unlock virtual rewards, and help "unlock" book donations for kids in need! For 2020, Scholastic has created Scholastic Home Base, a free digital destination which offers full books, live events, and games in a safe community for readers. Learn more HERE

SYNC Free Summer Audiobooks for Teens: Teens 13+ can download 2 FREE audiobooks per week over the summer (April 30-July 29). This program is designed to introduce teens to the world of audiobooks, and is great for "reluctant" and "omnivorous" readers alike! 




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