25 Free Summer Reading Programs & Rewards 2025
Summer Reading Program Rewards are a great way to keep your child learning, and avoid what’s known as the “summer slide,” or losing what they learned during the school year.
And, don’t miss our Report Card – Rewards for Good Grades list of freebies!
We have compiled a roundup list of the best Summer Reading Programs 2025 for your child this summer. They are all FREE and some of them offer great rewards.
Why Summer Reading is Important
Prevent “Summer Slide”
Summer reading programs keep kids’ reading skills sharp during the long summer break. These programs make learning fun and help prevent summer learning loss, also known as “summer slide”.They also keep kids engaged with exciting books, challenges, and rewards!
Encourage Good Reading Habits
Offering a reward for reading makes kids want to do it. The result is inspiring a life-long love for reading. These programs help kids enjoy books now and for years to come!
Expand Knowledge and Vocabulary
Reading any time can help children learn more about the world around them, and increases their vocabulary.
Inspire Reluctant Readers
A reluctant reader is someone who doesn’t enjoy reading or struggles to stay engaged with books. They might find reading boring, difficult, or frustrating, often avoiding it when possible. The right books and effective encouragement can help spark their interest and turn them into lifelong readers!
Community Engagement
Many programs are offered by local libraries and other community organizations. These offerings can help connect children with resources and activities to keep them learning all year long.
Tips for Participating in Summer Reading Programs
Check with your local library
Many public libraries offer summer reading programs, so check with your local library to see what they offer. Checking out books is free, and they may offer rewards!
Encourage your children to participate
Show your kids how much you enjoy reading, and join them for a cozy evening snuggled in with a good book. If you don’t like to read, or don’t make time to read, what are you teaching them?
Make it fun!
Join your child in choosing books that they are interested in. Share with them beloved books that you loved as a child. Tell them about the book in your own words to show them how much the story meant to you. Then, after they’ve read the book, talk to them about what they thought, and what they liked or didn’t like about it. You can even imagine a different ending together, or discuss the characters and how they might have reacted differently.
Set realistic goals
This is a big list! Choose a few that appeal to you, but don’t overwhelm your children with too many books or activities. Then, check in regularly to ensure they are on their way to meeting their goals and adjust if needed.
What to Read? Find Free Books on Amazon
There are hundreds of free books online. We have the list of the top 100 free best sellers Children’s Books on Amazon. If you choose digital books, remember you can read Kindle books on any device.
Top Summer Reading Rewards
We like to get a head start on these, but not everyone is as early as we are! Therefore, not all programs have been announced yet for 2025. Stay tuned, and we’ll update you as they are unveiled.
ABC Mouse and Adventure Academy
- ABC Mouse – score a free month of online school for younger kids, age 2-7 (preschool through 3rd grade)
- Adventure Academy offers a free month for older kids, age 8-13 (2nd to 8th grade).
Applebee’s Bookworm Reading Club
Kids ages 10 and younger can get free food at Applebees! Here’s how it works: children read 10 books. Then, record their accomplishment on their Bookworm Club record card. Once they read all 10 books, they can get a free kid’s meal at Applebee’s Bookworm Reading Club (with an adult meal purchase).
Amazon.com Summer Reading Challenge
In the past, Amazon has given a free book for reading 8 books during the summer. Kids who participate can earn an Amazon gift card! However, this year they seem to have removed the Summer Reading Challenge program since the link no longer works. The good news is, that you can still grab a ton of free kids books on Amazon. Double-check the price before buying as prices change often on Amazon.
Barefoot Books Summer Rewards
Kids can get a free color-in membership certificate when they sign up for the Barefoot Books free summer reading program.
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program
In past summers, kids grades 1-6 could earn a free book through the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program. Read any 8 books and record them in your Summer Reading Journal. When you’re done, bring it to a Barnes & Noble store and choose your free book! Redeemable 7/1-8/31.
Braum’s Ice Cream Book Buddy
Braum’s Ice Cream offers free ice cream for grades 1-5 during the school year.
Braum’s Book Buddy is a reading incentive program for children in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. Each child can earn up to six Braum’s ice cream treats per school year just by reading, and it is free to participate in the program!The program begins in October and lasts through the school year. Teachers distribute Braum’s Book Buddy booklets to their students and then monitor book reading by placing a Book Buddy sticker in the student’s booklet for each book read. When a student has read six books, the teacher rewards the student with a coupon for a free treat from Braum’s!
Books-a-Million
Read 4 books from the Books-a-Million summer reading list, then record them in the reading journal and get a free gift from BAM.
Chuck E Cheese’s Reading Rewards = Pizza Tokens
Kids, read a book every day for 2 weeks, and earn 10 FREE tokens valid at Chuck E Cheese.
Parents, head on over and grab a Reading Rewards Calendar, have kids fill it out and bring it with you next time you head to have pizza with the mouse!
Please note, there is a limit of one award per day for each child. And, a food purchase is required.
Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)
CSLP is a group of states and affiliates working together to support summer reading. They choose a theme, create artwork, and design quality programs for public libraries. Their goal is to make summer reading fun and engaging for all!
They also have a Summer Color Our World Writing Contest for kids ages 8-12. Entries are open from June 1 to July 31, 2025. The grand prize winner will receive $500 worth of books from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. Three runner-ups will receive signed copies of Willodeen, Crenshaw, Odder, and Wishtree.
WRITING PROMPT
Your writing can change and color our world! Write a short story between 1,000 – 1,500 words about a character that takes an action that changes someone else’s day for the better. The action can be as small or grand as you’d like — even small acts can make a big difference!Your story must have a catchy title, a protagonist that takes an action to make a change, and a beginning, middle, and end.
DOD MWR Summer Reading Program
The Department of Defense Military and Recreation (MWR) program offers a flexible, nonprofit reading program for military families.
DOD MWR Summer Reading Program, in partnership with iREAD Summer Reading, is a flexible, nonprofit reading program designed by librarians featuring appealing incentives, compelling and adaptable themes, and a comprehensive resource guide chock full of ideas, handouts and activities that can be used. The mission of DOD MWR Libraries is to provide resources and experiences to bridge the summer education gap, while inspiring life-long learning.
Half-Price Books Feed Your Brain Summer Reading
In 2025, Half-Price Books has revamped the Half-Price Books summer reading program. You can sign up now to get all the details when they begin on June 1!
Get ready to hit the road during Summer Reading Camp! BW is taking a few friends (and more than a few books) on a reading road trip. Want to come along? The fun starts now, so pack up the kiddos, pick up reading logs from your local HPB, & prepare earn rewards and share your favorite stories with us all summer long!
H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Program
HEB Grocery Stores Summer Reading Program offers kids who read 10 books, July through September, and mail in this reading log, a free t-shirt by mail!
H-E-Buddy is ready for summer fun and summer jamming, so it’s time to kick off our H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club. All you have to do is read ten books and record them on your reading log from the form linked below. And remember, one of the books must be a Read 3 Book (see choices below). Each time you log a book, have an adult initial by the title so you get credit for reading. Once the log is complete, mail the form to the address below, and you’ll be rewarded with a special prize. You have until October 1 to get in ten good reads. Texas summers are made for adventures, and some of the best adventures you find are in books, so find a stack of books and start exploring.*
Mail to:
H-E-Buddy 2021 Summer Reading Program
10530 Sentinel
San Antonio, TX 78217H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club Form
*Must be postmarked by October 1st.
The H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club is intended solely for children who are residents of Texas and between the ages of 3-12.
Lifeway Stores
Lifeway Stores – in past years, kids aged 1-6 who read six books and memorized six Scripture verses, got a free book and a free bible. However, they seem to have discontinued this.
Meatheads Burgers
Meatheads Burgers – In past years, kids ages 13 and under who read 5 books would earn a reward of one lil’ meathead burger every 30 days. However, they haven’t done this for the past few years. We hope they bring it back.
Panda Express Read with Me
The restaurant chain incentivizes reading for kids aged 5-11, by offering free Panda Express food when 5 books are read. Daycares, homeschools, community centers, schools/classrooms, and libraries can sign up. The program is called Read With Me. It’s easy to get started on their website. Enroll online in minutes and they will deliver bookmark and reward materials to you. They also have digital awards available!
Pizza Hut Camp Book It! Summer Reading Camp
This super fun Summertime Pizza Hut Camp Book It! extends the regular school-year Book it program. When kids read, they can earn a Reading Award Certificate, redeemable for a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut.
Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading
In past years, children received a special surprise after attending 5 Weekly Pottery Barn Kids Storytime events.
Public Libraries
Many local public libraries offer summer — and even fall, winter, and spring — reading programs for children, teens, and adults. These programs often feature themed activities, reading logs, and prizes for participants.
Why not stay in your community? Most library locations offer something special, and some even offer them weekly! So, check your local libraries to find out which programs they’ll offer this year. Grab your kids and make an afternoon out of it! Some locations will even be offering free books, prizes, or crafts.
Rusty Bucket Restaurants Bucketeer Bookworms Reading Program
Bucketeer Bookworms in Indianapolis can pick up a Bookmark Tracker at Rusty Bucket Restaurants. Once kids read 5 different books, then they get a free kids meal!
Bucketeer Bookworms:
– The Bucketeer Bookworm Reading Program is designed to encourage kids to read. Enrolling is child’s play: just visit your neighborhood Bucket and ask for your Bucketeer Bookworm Bookmark Tracker.
– When kids finish five books, they earn a complimentary kid’s meal.
Scholastic Happy Camper Summer Reading
With Scholastic Home Base Happy Camper Reading Program, Kids read and log their minutes all summer, take weekly challenges, and earn rewards! It’s a Fun, Free, and Safe Program for Kids.
From May 9 to September 12, kids can participate in theScholastic Summer Reading Program where they will be encouraged to read, celebrate their achievements and help increase access to books for their peers.
Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesday
With 18 locations in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island, Showcase Cinemas offers a premium movie experience with luxury seating, advanced sound, and high-def screens. They also have loyalty perks, special discounts, and exclusive events like Flashback Cinema and Sensory-Friendly screenings.
A fun and rewarding summer reading program developed to encourage young children to read during the summer months, Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating Showcase Cinemas box office. Tickets must be reserved in advance online or on the app and seating is limited. Tickets will not be available at the box office, for large parties or for camp groups. Accompanying parents or guardians and children under six years of age receive free admission and do not need to submit a book report.
Six Flags Theme Parks Read to Succeed
In the past, K-6 students who complete six hours of non-school related reading, that has been approved by their parents and teachers, are eligible for free admission to their nearest theme park with the Six Flags Read to Succeed summer reading program.
Read to Succeed
Read To Succeed is a FREE supplemental language arts program presented by Six Flags Theme Parks to promote recreational reading. Every student who completes six hours of recreational reading within the given timeframe as part of the Six Flags Six Hour Reading Club will be rewarded with a free ticket valid at participating Six Flags theme parks. Schools with students in grades Kindergarten through 6 are eligible to participate.
TD Bank summer reading
Canadian Kids who read 10 books to participate in the TD Bank summer reading program can learn to love reading and get rewards.
