Best Summer Reading Programs of 2022 | Earn Lots of FREE Books + More!
School’s out but these summer reading programs for kids will keep them engaged (and educated) all throughout the sunny season!
Keep your kids reading all summer long! 📚
If you’re looking for a summer boredom buster and hoping to keep your children reading while school’s out, there are lots of free reading programs available for kids this year! Here are some of the best FREE free summer reading programs happening in 2022.
NOTE – Bookmark this page and keep checking back, as we will continue to update this post with any additional summer reading programs that become available!
Teens get 2 FREE audiobooks per week this summer from SYNC.
SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens ages 13 and up. Registration for the 2022 season is now open and FREE to all teens!
This year’s summer reading program will last through August 17. Each week, SYNC participants will receive two thematically paired audiobooks delivered through the student reading app Sora. By the end of the program, teens will have had the opportunity to listen to 32 new titles! Head on over to our SYNC summer reading post to learn more about this program.
Kids can earn a FREE book from Barnes & Noble Summer Reading 2022 this summer.
Now through August 31st, Barnes & Noble is hosting a Summer Reading Program, where kids in grades 1-6 can earn a completely FREE book by following these easy steps:
- Download the summer reading journal, or pick one up at your local B&N store.
- Have your child read ANY eight books this summer and record them in the journal. They’ll need to share the book’s title and author, along with their favorite part of each book.
- Head to your nearest Barnes & Noble and turn in the completed journal between July 1 and August 31, 2022. Find a location near you.
- Choose a free book from the titles listed on the reading journal!
Get a FREE bookmark and pencil pouch from Books-A-Million.
This summer, when you read any four books from the Books-A-Million Summer Reading Challenge list (found in stores and on the Books-A-Million website), you’ll receive a FREE bookmark and pencil pouch! Note that you must present the completed reading journal in-store to receive this freebie, while supplies last.
Order a Summer Book Pack for under $2.
The Good and the Beautiful is a homeschooling curriculum that offers a summer reading program each year. This year, they’re giving away 100,000 free book packs to kids enrolled in their Summer Reading Program. Note that you do need to pay $1.49 per pack to cover the cost of shipping.
Each Summer Reading Pack includes a create-your-own jungle scene reading chart with stickers, 2 bookmarks, and a book that your child can earn for completing the program.
You can also opt to download these materials for free if you’d prefer. The free download does not include the book, but you can reward your child in another way at the end of the program if you choose this option!
Half Price Books will offer four free Reading Camps this summer.
This summer, Half Price Books will offer Summer Reading Camps with four different themes:
- June 1 – June 19: Camp Creativity (arts and crafts)
- June 20 – July 4: Camp Discovery (math and science)
- July 5 – July 17: Camp Motion (sports and dance)
- July 18 – July 31: Camp Imagination (music and drama)
Register your child(ren) for Half Price Books’ summer reading program now to participate. Then, beginning on June 1, they’ll get access to themed book recommendations, printables, crafts, and fun activities all summer long!
After you’ve completed the online registration, stop by a Half-Price Books location to pick up your camper’s Reward Map. Once completed, your child’s Reward Map can be redeemed to earn $5 Bookworm Bucks!
Receive a FREE T-shirt from Mensa for Kids.
The Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading program is open to all readers under the age of 18, and it will keep your kids busy reading high-quality literature all summer long!
To participate, kids can select one of these reading lists based on their grade level or reading ability. Then, print the appropriate list and have your child read all the books on it. Your child can track their progress by checking off each book and recording the date it was read, along with a rating.
After both the reader and an adult have signed the completed list, it can be sent to the Mensa Foundation at the address provided. Once the list is received, your child will get a commemorative certificate and an Excellence in Reading T-shirt, too!
Earn FREE pizza from the Pizza Hut Camp Book-It reading program.
Students entering PreK through 6th grade (ages 4-12) can now enroll in the Pizza Hut Camp Book It Program for the summer of 2022!
This parent-led summer reading program will track and reward your kids’ reading for June, July, and August. When your kids meet their reading goal, they’ll receive a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut!
Enjoy Bookworm Wednesdays at Showcase Cinemas.
The Bookworm Wednesdays reading program at Showcase Cinemas entitles kids to free admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating box office.
Accompanying parents or guardians and children under six years of age also receive free admission – no book report required!
Participate in Scholastic’s Summer Reading Program!
Now through August 19, kids can participate in the Scholastic Summer Reading Program. Participants will get access to the Scholastic Home Base, a free digital community full of books, live events, and games in a kid-safe environment.
Readers will be encouraged to track their reading streaks to earn rewards, unlock fun digital experiences, and donate books to communities in need. Head on over to the Scholastic Summer Reading website to learn more.
Check with your local public library for information on their summer reading program.
Be sure to check your local public library, as many of them will have summer reading programs for kids in addition to FREE storytimes, family movie days, kids clubs, activities, and more throughout the summer!
My library is doing an Adult Reading Program in addition to the Children and Teen Reading Programs this summer.
I won a Samsung table from my library’s adult summer reading program two years ago! And a $25 Starbucks gift card another year. Local libraries rock!
Mine did too! I think I had just as much fun participating as a grown-up as I did as a kid in their programs. Libraries are awesome!
Hi Susan – how fun! What library?
I’m not Susan, but if you can’t find anything on your library’s website, try Googling your library and the phrase “summer reading” or “summer learning”. My own library doesn’t have anything on their home page, but if I google it, I find the summer reading page that way. Last year, I signed up my 6 year old for the summer reading program and a librarian encouraged me to create my own account to participate as well. After she read a certain number of books, they gave her a nylon bag filled with goodies including a book.
Thank you so much for posting and encouraging summer reading! I am a retired reading specialist, and it just warms my heart to see this. Parents always ask what they can do to help their child or young adult become a better reader. The answer is to READ! Challenge them slightly but don’t get books that will frustrate them.
Thank you, Hip2Save!
Aww, You’re so welcome, Cindy! Thanks for taking the time to share with us. 🤗❤️🥰
Thanks so much for this post!! I sent it to my sisters who all have children the perfect age! I remember doing a lot of these programs as a kid! Loved picking out a free book at Barnes N Noble! So glad they’re still running this!
You are welcome, Brandy! I hope their kiddos enjoy this as much as you did!📚
Thank you! I’m trying to instill my love of reading to my 8 year old and after all this time he, finally wants to read by himself before bed each night.
You are welcome, TiffMeow! It’s so sweet that he wants to read on his own! Good job, MOM!😍
Anyone know if Kellogg’s is doing their reading program this summer? We’ve received SO many great books that way for my kids and we up-cycle into our Little Free Library on our front lawn.
We haven’t seen anything about a reading program with Kellogg’s this year. It may be announced at a later date. Last year it was announced around May 25th. Stay tuned, Gina!
I’ve been watching and waiting. We don’t have our own Little Free Library, but we also add our free books to those libraries after we’re finished with them. It’s such a nice program and I hope it’s repeated this year. We’ve found several favorite series that way!
That’s so great to hear, Renee! So glad you’re finding free ways to enjoy reading this summer! 🥰
https://www.osu.edu/alumni/activities-and-events/events/2022/brutus-summer-reading-challenge.html?utm_campaign=aa_alumni-event_fy22_brutus_summer_reading_challenge_inv&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc
Thanks for sharing!
Mensa for Kids’ Excellence in Reading Program can be completed at any time and participants receive a T-shirt and certificate. https://www.mensaforkids.org/achieve/excellence-in-reading/
Thanks for the heads up! Good to know!