Humanities › Literature Summer Reading Programs 2021 A List of Summer Reading Programs for Kids That Give Free Books, Money and More Share Flipboard Email Print monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images Literature Children's Books Children's Book Reviews Top Picks Authors & Illustrators Young Adult Books Best Sellers Classic Literature Plays & Drama Poetry Quotations Shakespeare Short Stories By Stacy Fisher Stacy Fisher Stacy is a freelancer with over 18 years experience writing about technology and personal finance. She has published hundreds of articles and co-authored a book. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on June 23, 2021 Updated for the summer reading programs for 2021. Summer reading programs are a great way to encourage your child to read over the summer months. So why not give them a little incentive to really get into that summer reading? Especially if those incentives are some great kid freebies! Kids can backslide during the summer months and it's important to keep them reading during this time. Reading helps with comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and much more. These free summer reading programs encourage kids to read by offering them small incentives, such as free books, to keep reading. Below you'll find a list of summer reading programs that will get your kids free stuff like free books, money, gift cards, movies, and more. Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program 2021 JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Getty Images This year the Barnes and Noble's summer reading program gives out a free book to each child who reads and records 8 books during the summer. There are many free books to choose from and there's something for every kid in grades 1-6. Free books are divided into categories for Grades 1 & 2, Grades 3 & 4, and Grades 5 & 6. Books are available until supplies are met. This summer reading program runs July 1 - August 31, 2021. Books-A-Million Summer Reading Program 2021 Maica / Getty Images Kids can get a free Because of Winn-Dixie notepad and pen this summer with the Books-A-Million summer reading program. The kids must read 4 of the qualified books, fill out a journal form to show which ones they read, and return it to any Books-A-Million store. The summer reading program runs now through an unknown end date. Amazon Books Retail Stores Summer Reading Challenge 2021 George Rose/Getty Images Amazon Retail stores will give young readers a Star Reader certificate and a $1 coupon off your next book purchase at Amazon Books if they read any 8 books over the summer. The Amazon Retail Summer Reading Challenge program is for students in grades K-8. This free summer reading program runs now through September 2, 2021. HEB H.E. Buddy Summer Reading Club 2021 Vast Photography / Getty Images The H.E. Buddy Summer Reading Club sponsored by H.E.B. grocery stores gives out a free t-shirt for each child who reads 10 books this summer. This summer reading club is only for residents of Texas who are between the ages of 3 and 12. This summer reading program is valid now until October 1, 2021. Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge 2021 Cultura/Hybrid Images / Getty Images Scholastic has a summer reading challenge where kids read and then go online to record the minutes they've read this summer. They'll also be able to take weekly challenges to earn rewards. This summer reading program runs from April 26 - September 3, 2021. Half Price Books Summer Reading Program 2021 Getty Images News Half Price Books gives out free gift cards to kids who read books this summer. When kids read for 300 minutes during both June and July, they'll get a free $5 gift card per month to Half Price Books. This summer reading program runs June 1 - July 31, 2021. Sync Summer Reading Program for Teens 2021 Hero Images / Getty Images Sync has a summer reading program just for teens that will get them two free audiobooks each week this summer. Each week there will be a current young adult book as well as a classic title that teens will be able to download for free through the OverDrive app. This summer reading program runs April 25 - August 1, 2019. Public Library Summer Reading Programs Hero Images / Getty Images Some of the best summer reading programs are at your local public library. Every public library has a different summer reading program but almost all of them have rewards and prizes for kids as well as fun events. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Fisher, Stacy. "Summer Reading Programs 2021." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/get-free-kids-stuff-from-summer-reading-programs-for-kids-1356875. Fisher, Stacy. (2021, December 6). Summer Reading Programs 2021. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/get-free-kids-stuff-from-summer-reading-programs-for-kids-1356875 Fisher, Stacy. "Summer Reading Programs 2021." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/get-free-kids-stuff-from-summer-reading-programs-for-kids-1356875 (accessed March 29, 2023). copy citation Featured Video