If you're like many other Kansas City moms and dads, you've started thinking about how to keep kids reading this summer. With some schools breaking for summer as early as this week, we're excited to bring you our 2nd 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. There are also some great new national programs that have been introduced this year, which are a bit different that the ones we told you about last summer. 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 23 - August 6, 2011. This year's theme, One World, Many Stories, 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 23rd. Folders will also be distributed throughout the summer as needed. Use the folder to keep track of all your summer reading. 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 June 27 and August 6, thereafter at any library while supplies last or until August 14. Those returning their completed logs by August 6 are eligible to enter a drawing to be a “Star” on their own Read poster and win a family 4-pack of tickets to the Kansas City Zoo.
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading - BN's 2011 program is themed around Imagination Destination. Kids can download a Summer Reading Journal (offered in both English & Spanish) to log the books they've read, or simply pick one up at the children's section of the store. Then, they'll need to read and comment on eight different books of their choice. After the list is completed, bring the Passport to the store between May 24 and September 6, 2011 and they'll automatically receive a FREE book! The free book must be one of the titles listed on the Journal. Parents can also dowload a useful activity kit full of teaching tips and daily activities.
Scholastic Summer Challenge - Help set a world record for summer reading! The overall record set for 2010 among all schools was 52,710,368 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
Register by clicking here to get started with the program which begins June 6, 2011.
Half-Price Books 'Feed Your Brain' Summer Reading Program - June 1 - July 31, 2011. 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 25 – August 7 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 Sunday, June 5 at 2 pm for the Biggest Storytime of the Summer at Kansas City metro local Half Price Books locations.
Border's Double Dog Dare Summer Reading Challenge - Kids ages 12 and under can keep track of the books they read all summer long. After they've read at least 10 books, they can bring in their completed reading log and receive their free book!
Bonner Springs Public Library - One World, Many Stories Summer Reading program kicks off June 4, 2011. Fill out a registration form at the library, a parent’s signature is required. A parent or the child needs to have a Bonner Springs City Library card to participate in the program. Kids age infant to grade 5 are invited to participate. Parents are responsible for items children check out from the library. Summer Reading registration begins on Tuesday, May 31. The Summer Reading Kick-off Party is Saturday, June 4 at 10:30am with Mad Science of Kansas City presenting Around the World Through Scientist Eyes! Everyone is welcome to attend the program, arrive early as seating is limited to 80 people. June 4th is also the first day to sign-up for special programs being held in June at the library!
Kansas City Public Library Summer Reading Fun - Children are invited to sign up in person or online to participate in this fun reading program. For every 3 hours you read, pick up a reward at your library plus enter your name in drawings for additional prizes. Once you have read for 12 hours, you have officially completed the program. This means that you’ve earned a book and Royals tickets (while supplies last)! Keep reading and keep entering your name in drawings all summer long!
Kansas City, Kansas Public Library Summer Reading - One World, Many Stories summer reading program kicks off May 31, 2011. Kids from birth to age 18 can read (or be read to) for fun and prizes from June 1st to July 31st. Sign up at any KCK Public Library location and then read, read, read!
American Girl Summer Reading Program - New this year is an in-store event for your little girl that will encourage and promote reading and playtime! Share a love of reading with American Girl! Your special girl is invited to decorate a craft card about her favorite book to hang on our summer reading wall for all to see. FREE to participate and open to girls ages 8 and up. Dates are as follows:
June 7: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 9: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
June 14: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 16: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
June 21: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 23: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
June 28: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 30: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
July 5: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
July 7: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
July 12: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
July 14: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
July 19: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
July 21: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
July 26: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
July 28: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
August 2: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
August 4: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
August 9: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
August 11: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Books-A-Million Summer Reading Program with Junie B. Jones - Join Books-A-Million for the launch of their 2011 Summer Reading Program with Junie B. Jones. The summer adventure kicks off on May 24th when children can pick up their Junie B. checklist at any of Books-A-Million’s 230 locations. Children who participate in the program and read 4 books between May 24 and August 1 will receive a FREE Junie B. Jones backpack bag to take on their own summer adventures.
