Free Summer Reading Programs in San Antonio

 

 

 

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As a child, did you love the lazy days of summer, when reading was as much a part of your days as swimming or making s’mores? Not only is summer reading enjoyable, it’s also great way for kids to get ready for their next year of school by strengthening their reading skills.

Here are some of the best free reading programs your kids (and you) will love participating in this summer to earn free books, gift cards, certificates, and more!

Free summer reading programs

San Antonio Public Library’s Summer Reading Program
Starts: June 1, 2017
Where: at library branches all over San Antonio (see locations here)
How: Kids complete a reading journal. When it’s full, visit a local library branch to turn it in to receive a certificate and a free book.
Events: the San Antonio Public Library supports its Summer Reading Program with free events and activities, all summer long. See the San Antonio Public Library Calendar for more information.
Rewards: kids (both listeners and readers) earn a Summer Reading Certificate and a free paperback book to keep.

BiblioTech’s Summer Reading Program
Starts: June 1, 2017
Where: BiblioTech locations
NOTE: You’ll need a BiblioTech card to participate in summer reading.
How: Print one of the three game boards, or visit either of our branch locations to get a copy. (There will be game boards for children, teens and adults, so everyone can participate!) To “win” the game, you will complete reading and library challenges written on the game board.
Rewards: Throughout the game there will be the chance to get prizes during our Raspa Days.

Half Price Books: Feed Your Brain
Starts: in June and runs through July
Ends: Reading logs are due no later than Thursday, August 30.
Where: Online and in stores
How: Kids 14 and under can go to the Half Price Books website to download the reading log. Have a parent or guardian initial each week and each month during June and July. High school students who would like to participate can also visit the Half Price Books website beginning in June to submit a short review of a book they read in June and July.
Reward: Once a reader has logged 300 minutes (or a high school student has uploaded their review), they can come to any Half Price Books location to turn in their log for $5 in “Bookworm Bucks” (which is like a gift card they can spend in the store).

The Twig’s Summer Reading Program
Twiglets read and log the books they read this summer on their SPOT ON Reading Sheet. The Twig offers rewards for every 10 books you child reads (or, that you read to them). Turn in your SPOT ON Reading Sheet at The Twig for a chance to win a $10 Twig gift certificate (drawn weekly).

FEAST Summer Reading Program
The Family Educators Alliance of South Texas sponsors a summer reading program for affiliated homeschool students along with public or private school students in Bexar county. This program, for students aged 5–18, runs from June 7th–August 4th. More information can be found here.

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program
Where: At participating Barnes & Noble Stores
How:
1. Fill out the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Triathlon Journal (found on their website) in English or Spanish
2. Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble Store (find a location here)
3. Choose a free book from the selection on the Reading Journal list at the store
Rewards: One free book from the Reading Journal list at the store.

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Where: online
How: Kids log the minutes they spend reading.
Rewards: Play games, earn virtual rewards, and enter a sweepstakes

Book Adventure through Sylvan Learning
Where: online
How: Kids entering grades K – 8 can search for books, create reading lists, read books offline, take quizzes, and earn prizes
Rewards: Once they’ve earned enough points from reading and taking quizzes, kids can select a prize (parents must approve before the prize can be delivered).

Chuck E. Cheese Reading Rewards 2018
Chuck E. Cheese offers 10 free tokens to kids who read each day for 2 weeks. Kids can record their reading times on their Reading Rewards Calendar (downloadable at the above address) and present to the CEC restaurant to receive their tokens.  The program expires on 12-31-2018.

H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club
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. 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 H‑E‑Buddy 2017 Summer Reading Program 10530 Sentinel, San Antonio, TX 78217, and you’ll be rewarded with a special t‑shirt. You have until October 1 to get in ten good reads. (Allow 3-4 weeks for prize delivery.)

Sync Summer Reading Program for Teens 2017
Sync has a summer reading program just for teens that will get them two free audio books 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 27 – August 16, 2017.

More free summer reading fun!

Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Summer Reading
To help increase reading time during the summer months, Pizza Hut has partnered with Candlewick Press to bring your kids summer reading activities. Click on the links below each image to learn more about the books and download the activities.

Northeast Independent Summer Reading Guide for grades K – 12 (and adults!)
NEISD librarians curated these grade-specific lists (for 2018) which give students suggestions for what they may want to read during the summer for enjoyment.