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2013 Summer Reading Programs in Kansas City Metro & Johnson County

If you're like many other Kansas City moms and dads, you've started thinking about how to keep kids reading this summer.  We're excited to bring you our 4th Annual KC Summer Reading Programs Guide!  We've compiled some great resources for you to start thinking about summer reading programs.  Many places have already begun making their program information available, and we've included details below.  Summer reading programs offer a great way to keep kids learning and reading throughout the summer as well as provide great incentives & prizes for them!  Happy reading!

Johnson County Public Library Summer Reading Program - May 20 - August 3, 2013.  Enjoy summer reading for all ages!  Pick up a reading log at any Johnson County Library location or download one online.  Earn virtual badges for reading and doing activities, record your reading time, track books you've read, win books, and MORE!

Olathe Public Library Summer Reading Program - May 22 - August 11, 2013.  This summer's reading program theme is Dig Into Reading!  We will be exploring the wonders beneath our feet—gardens, rocks, animals, fossils, caves, gnomes, and more!  The planned activities include special programs, puppet shows, storytimes, book discussion groups, free family movies, LEGO building, chess nights, crafts, a bookmark contest, Find Fido Fridays, and more.  We will once again be starting off the summer with our Summer Reading Kick-Off for the whole family.  This summer we will also be offering two big programs off-site at the Bell Cultural Events Center located on the MidAmerica Nazarene University campus.

All young readers (going into 5th grade and younger) are invited to pick up a summer reading folder at the library beginning Wednesday, May 22.  Folders will also be distributed throughout the summer and will be available at our Summer Reading Kick-Off on May 28 at Frontier Park.  Use the folder to keep track of all your summer reading.  Just for fun you may also collect colorful stickers for your folder each week throughout the summer.  Bring your folder back to the library between July 29 - August 11 to receive a free paperback book! 

Scholastic Summer Challenge - Help set a world record for summer reading!  Read, log minutes, win prizes!

iVillage & PBS Summer Reading Challenge - June 17 - July 12, 2013 - Get your kids reading this summer! Join our free 4-week program and starting June 17 you’ll get daily emails filled with:

• Literacy-building tips from the experts at Sprout
• Games and activities to help foster a love of reading
• Printables and crafts to share with your kids
• A daily chance to win great prizes

Half-Price Books 'Feed Your Brain' Summer Reading Program - Kids ages 14 and under can earn Bookworm Bucks for keeping their appetite for reading during this summer.  Download a Reading Log to keep track of books read.  Turn in your completed reading log at Half Price Books by July 7 or August 11 to receive your summer reading reward!  Do you think you’re a Top Reader this summer? We’ll award one top reader per month with a TOP READER prize, a $20 HPB Gift Card!  Join them for the Feed Your Brain kick off on June 2 at 2 pm for the Biggest Storytime of the Summer at Kansas City metro local Half Price Books locations.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Library "Dig Into" Summer Reading - June 1 - July 31, 2013.  Kids can keep track of reading all summer long and earn prizes.  Join them for the Summer Reading Kickoff Celebration on June 3, 2013.  Bring the family! Pick up your summer reading logs and enjoy face painting, refreshments, and a spectacular magic show from magician Eric Vaughn!

Kansas City Public Library Summer Reading Fun - Kids ages 12 and under can pick up a reading or sign-up online beginning June 1, 2013.  Reading logs can be used for keeping track of books read or listened to and redeemed for prizes.  Kids will earn a prize for every 3 hours of listening/reading.  Teens can also have fun with summer reading - they're invited to share personal opinions about the books they read via text, e-mail, or on a Summer Reading Review Form.  Based on the number of times they share about the books they've read, they'll earn rewards and can be entered into a drawing to win a netbook.  

Barnes & Noble's Imagination's Destination Summer Reading Program - Read and record any 8 books on a reading log and earn a FREE book! Program runs May 21, 2013 through September 3, 2013.  Barnes and Noble bookstores are located in Johnson County at Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Town Center Plaza in Leawood, and in Kansas City, Missouri at the Country Club Plaza.  Other locations are at Independence Commons in Independence, Missouri and Zona Rosa in Kansas City, Missouri.

American Girl Read-a-Palooza Summer Reading Program - May 1 - August 26, 2013.  Visit them online to print learning guides and reading-related activities. Then, visit them in store at Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kansas for crafts and live events.  $1 of every printed book purchased will go to Save the Children's U.S. Literacy Program. 

Mid-Continent Public Library - May 23 - July 31, 2013.  Kids ages 5th grade and under may download a reading log online or pick one up at any MCPL branch.  Children ages 0-6 are invited to listen to 24 books in order to earn a free book.  Kids ages 6-11 may log their reading minutes and earn a free paperback for every 360 minutes read. Completed reading logs may be returned at any MCPL location between the program dates.  

Books-A-Million Summer Reading Program - Download a reading form and read any 6 books from the list between May 19 - August 17, 2013 to receive a free HOOT or CHOMP backpack (while supplies last).  Books-A-Million is located at the Legends Shopping in Kansas City, Kansas.

Shawnee Books and Toys - May 18 - August 18, 2013. Every child that completes the challenge earns a goodie bag and is entered in a drawing for 1 of 2 $25 gift certificates to Shawnee Books & Toys. Kids age 4-14 are eligible to enter.  Also plan to attend the Summer Reading Challenge event!  We will have local author Dave Witaker signing his book for middle graders "Otter & Arthur" a new spin on King Arthur as well as drawings for free books, and our Summer Reading Challenge Forms. 

Chuck E. Cheese's Reading Rewards - Children can track their reading progress by printing the Reading Rewards Chart online.  Track 2 weeks of reading each day and then bring in the completed log to participating locations.  Participants will be rewarded with 10 free tokens.   Valid at all Chuck E. Cheese locations in Olathe and Overland Park, Kansas and Independence and Kansas City, Missouri.

Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge - May 16 - Auguts 26, 2013.  Keep your kids reading all summer long with recommended lists of titles.  Join in for weekly storytime on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. throughout the summer and kids will receive a special prize for completing all the books on the reading list.  Locations are in Johnson County at Town Center Plaza in Leawood Kansas and in Missouri at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Kids' Book Giveaway at Olathe Half Price Books

{Photo source: Half Price Books}

Join the Half Price Books (HPB) 15th Annual Half Pint Library Book Drive!  HPB's Half Pint Library Book Drive is one of the most important ways they're able to get books into the hands of those who need them, and it's all thanks to the donations from the community.  Drop off your new or gently used children’s books anytime now through March 31 at any Half Price Books location.  For every book donated, HPB will match it.  Donations will benefit local nonprofit organizations in the Kansas City community.

 

Their goal is to distribute books to as many different nonprofit community organizations as possible and to be safe and fair at all times.  Groups interested in receiving book donations, are invited to download the Donation Pick-Up Form to learn more about how the Half Pint Giveaways will work. All nonprofit organizations, schools, hospitals, and individuals with 501(c)(3) status may attend any Half Pint Library giveaway event and receive books.  Supplies may be limited. Events are first-come, first-served.  Potential recipients are encouraged to arrive early as the books will be going fast!

The Kansas/Missouri book giveaway event will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 3 p.m. at Half Price Books located at 15309 W. 119th St., Olathe, KS 66062.

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Author Jeff Kinney Meet & Greet Book Signing at Rainy Day Books

{source: Rainy Day Books}

Do you have  a Diary of A Wimpy Kid book series lover in your home?  If so, you'll want to mark you calendars and get in on this fun meet and greet / book signing event that Author Jeff Kinney is coming to Kansas City for.

Rainy Day Books invites you to join them as #1 bestselling author Jeff Kinney introduces Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel and autographs books for readers and fans.

This special Diary of a Wimpy Kid experience will offer photo opportunities with life-size characters, a dance party with a live DJ, and treats!  Admission tickets for this event are limited and available with the purchase of Jeff Kinney's new book so be sure to order your hardcover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (Book 7) today!  A stamped booksigning admission ticket is required for the booksigning.

This event will be Tuesday November 13, 2012 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Unity Temple on The Plaza sanctuary, located at 707 W. 47th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64112.  For ticket info visit http://www.rainydaybooks.com.

For more great family fun, visit our community events calendar - it's packed with KC metro family fun at your fingertips!

2012 Summer Reading Programs in Kansas City Metro & Johnson County

If you're like many other Kansas City moms and dads, you've started thinking about how to keep kids reading this summer.  We're excited to bring you our 3rd Annual KC Summer Reading Programs Guide!  We've compiled some great resources for you to start thinking about summer reading programs.  Many places have already begun making their program information available, and we've included details below.  Summer reading programs offer a great way to keep kids learning and reading throughout the summer as well as provide great incentives & prizes for them!  Happy reading!

Johnson County & Olathe Public Libarary Summer Reading Program - May 21 - August 4, 2012.  This year's theme, Dream Big, READ, will feature special programs, puppet shows, drop-in activities, storytimes, book discussion groups, free movies, chess nights, games, Spanish classes, craft programs, a drawing contest, Find Fido Fridays, and more.  All young readers (ages birth - teens) are invited to pick up a summer reading folder at the library beginning Monday May 21st, or download a reading log here.  Reading logs will also be distributed throughout the summer as needed.  Use the reading log to keep track of all your summer reading.  Summer Reading Kick-Off event is on on May 29 at Frontier Park.  Collect colorful stickers for your folder each week at the library.  You can pick out a prize paperback book at any Johnson County Library location between July 1 and August 4, thereafter at any library while supplies last or until August 11. Those returning their completed logs by August 4 are eligible to enter a drawing to be a “Star” on their own Read poster and win a family 4-pack of tickets to Science City.

Scholastic Summer Challenge - Help set a world record for summer reading!  The overall record set for 2011 among all schools was 64,213,141 minutes logged!  Read, log minutes, win prizes!

iVillage & PBS Summer Reading Challenge - Get your kids reading this summer! iVillage has teamed up with PBS KIDS Raising Readers to create a free 6-week program to help children discover the joys of reading. You'll receive:

•A daily email with fun activities to build reading skills
•Tricks and advice from your Challenge coach
•Great book suggestions for kids of all ages
•Tips from other parents taking the challenge
•A chance to win daily prizes

You can even download this app which will serve as a reading timer for your kids while you're on-the-go!

Register by clicking here to get started with the program which begins June 18, 2012.

Half-Price Books 'Feed Your Brain' Summer Reading Program - June 3 - July 31, 2012.  Kids ages 14 and under can earn back-to-school book bucks for keeping their appetite for reading during this summer.  Download a Reading Log to keep track of books read.  Turn in your completed reading log at Half Price Books July 8 – August 5 to receive your $5 Back-to-School Bucks summer reading reward!  Do you think you’re a Top Reader this summer? We’ll award one top reader per age group with a TOP READER prize, a $20 HPB Gift Card!  Join them for the Feed Your Brain kick off on June 3 at 2 pm for the Biggest Storytime of the Summer at Kansas City metro local Half Price Books locations.

Kansas City Public Library Summer Reading Fun - Children are invited to sign up in person or online to participate in this fun reading program, Dream Big @ Your Library, starting on June 1, 2012.  Read books and earn free paperback books!  Join the Summer Reading Kickoff Party on Friday June 1, 2012.

Barnes & Noble's Imagination's Destination Summer Reading Program - Read and record any 8 books on a reading log and earn a FREE book! Program runs May 22, 2012 through September 4, 2012.

American Girl Read-a-Palooza Summer Reading Program - Register your daughter to keep track of books she reads then turn in the reading journal for a FREE book! Program runs May 1, 2012 - September 3, 2012.