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2012 List of Summer Reading Programs

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Photograph Credit: TD Bank

In searching for summer reading programs, I highlighted a few of our family’s favorites with separate posts.

Some programs have changed since last year and are only open to certain residents. I will do my best to give you the details in this list of summer reading programs. Enjoy! 🙂

1. Barnes & Noble

Read 8 books, record in reading journal, and receive a free book. Expires September 4, 2012

2. Book Adventure

This on-line reading program provides the books to read, quizzes to test comprehension, and prizes to earn.

3. Chuck E. Cheese

Read daily for two weeks and redeem your record for 10 tokens when you make a food purchase. Offer expires on December 31, 2012.

4. Half Price Books

The Feed Your Brain program offers students ages 14 and younger a $5 gift certificate to Half Price Books when they reach 300 minutes on their reading log after reading for 15 minutes per day for a month. For June submissions the deadline is July 8, 2012. The last day to enter for July is August 5, 2012.   

5. H-E-B Grocery Store

Read 10 books and received a prize package. The reading log states “for Texas residents only.” Reading log must be postmarked by October 1, 2012.

6. National Amusement Theaters

Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating Cinema de Lux, Showcase, or Multiplex cinemas’ box office.
Accompanying parents or guardians and children under six years of age receive free admission and do not need to provide a book report. Program completion varies by box office.

7. PBS Kids

Beginning June 18, the Summer Reading Community Challenge starts its 6-week program. After registering, you will receive a daily assignment by e-mail where readers can earn prizes.

This is a new program for me. I signed up and will know more when the program begins.

8. Pottery Barn Kids

This summer reading challenge provides reading lists. Choose a list, record your reading on the log, and redeem for a free book at your local store. Program ends on August 22, 2012.

9. Scholastic

Summer Challenge encourages children to read, log their minutes on-line, earn digital rewards, and enter sweepstakes for fun prizes.

10. TD Bank

Read 10 books for a $10 deposit into a new or existing TD Young Saver’s bank account. Program expires on September 29, 2012.

NOTE: You will need to supply your picture ID and social security number. You will also need your child’s social security number to open their account.

11. Local Bookstores

Check websites for more summer reading programs near you.

12. Local Libraries

Our library offers free entertainment programs to summer reader participants. The reading log is the ticket to the show: magic, bubbles, animals, musicians, and puppets.

My children are already working on their summer reading for the library as they will receive a water park pass and ticket voucher for a minor league baseball game when they reach their goal. Since Chick-fil-A has withdrawn their sponsorship this year, two toys will replace the kids’ meal and dessert coupons.

My younger daughter will miss out on these older-kid rewards since the program changed to ages 4 and up. However, she can earn a board book by listening to the stories I read to her and her sister.

Summer reading programs offer incentives for our young readers. Though our family does not engage in every one of these programs, I love the variety and opportunity for my children to earn rewards. Happy reading!

Question: What programs did I miss?

2012 Summer Reading: H-E-Buddy Reading Club

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Photograph Credit: HEB.com

With the state of our economy, many retailers have scaled back their community relations.

Unfortunately, H-E-B grocery stores is limiting their summer reading club to Texas residents only.

My children participated in this program for 3 years. The prizes for reading 10 books included a tee-shirt, certificate, pencil, bookmark, and stickers.

Though we will be reading our books this summer, we will miss our free tee-shirts with Buddy the Bag on the front.

If you live in the state of Texas, then this reading program is worth your time.

Participation involves the following:

1. Print out the form,

2. Record the titles of the books read,

3. Confirm their reading with your initials, and

4. Mail the completed form to:

H•E•Buddy® 2012 Summer Reading Program

10530 Sentinel, San Antonio, TX 78217

Your form must be postmarked by October 1, 2012.

As you continue working on summer reading, enjoy the benefits of summer reading programs, like the H-E-Buddy Reading Club.

Since we have participated each year, I will send in our forms and see what happens. We are not Texas residents, but we have entered each year. I’ll let you know if we get rewarded. Happy reading!

2012 Summer Reading: Barnes & Noble

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Summer has arrived, so let the summer reading begin.

Encouraging students to read and learn during the summer months, Barnes & Noble offers a free book for completing their summer reading requirements.

With a goal of earning a new book, my son worked at reading his 8 books last year. By the time he concluded his books, the choices at our local store were low.

Though he did not receive his first or second choice, he enjoyed choosing the book alone.

If you participate, I recommend redeeming your reading log immediately upon completion for the best selection. 🙂

Photograph Credit: Barnes & Noble

To earn your free book, simply follow these three easy steps:

Step 1: Read any eight books this summer and record them in this Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Imagination’s Destination Journal. Be sure to include to whom you would recommend each book and why.

Step 2: Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 22 and September 4, 2012.

Step 3: Choose your FREE reading adventure from the book list featured on the back of the journal.

Participation is for students in 1st through 6th grades. To participate, visit the Barnes & Noble web site, download and print the journal, and read. Happy summer reading!

Good Grades: Second Quarter Rewards – 2012

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For the first quarter rewards, I expressed my concern with my son’s school transitioning from an official report card to on-line records.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Not knowing how Krispy Kreme would handle the change, we stopped by with our printout.

True to form, Krispy Kreme Doughnut employees accepted the printout, congratulated my son on his good grades, allowed him to choose his 6 doughnuts, and stamped his printout.

What a joy to watch my son carefully choose his rewards, remembering to choose special ones for his sisters. His sweetness melts my heart. 🙂

Blockbuster

Due to their merger, Blockbuster has removed the good grades promotion page from their website. At this time, Blockbuster is not offering a free movie for good grades. If this promotion returns or changes, I will pass along the information.

To find other good grade rewards, click on this comprehensive list. In using time wisely, I suggest you call your local businesses to verify participation before arriving. 🙂 Better to find out before you arrive that a store is not participating than having to explain the situation to your disappointed child.

If you find other programs, please share the information in the comments. Happy weekend!

Question: What good grade rewards does your child receive? 

Good Grades: First Quarter Rewards – 2011

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With the movement of paperless records, our school has moved from a paper version report card to an on-line accounting of the first quarter grades. Though the school name, student name, subject, and grades are listed, I am curious to know if businesses will accept this copy when granting rewards.

Two establishments we visit for good grade rewards are Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Blockbuster. As we visit these establishments for rewards, I will keep you updated on Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page regarding our success or failure in gaining the good grade rewards.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

For each “A”, “E” (excellent), and “S” (satisfactory), the student will be able to choose one doughnut, up to 6 total doughnuts. Our Krispy Kreme stamps the report card at the time of redemption.

Last time our family visited Krispy Kreme, we arrived while the doughnuts were being made. My kids enjoyed watching the process through the glass windows. For more information on this program, consult Doughnuts for Good Grades.

Blockbuster

If your student has an “A” or “B” average, then he or she can choose a movie from the favorites collection, the older movies available for rental at Blockbuster. With the company change, you might want to check with your local store for any rule changes.

When we arrived with our fourth quarter grades in June, Blockbuster allowed our son to choose one movie for a one-day rental. We chose to use the free movie on a weekend when we would be driving past Blockbuster two days in a row. This way we were not making a special trip to drop off the movie.

For more information on this program and other good grade reward programs, check out free movie for good grades.

As my son does his best and earns good grades, I am thrilled to take him to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Blockbuster for additional rewards. In using time wisely, these rewards are a tangible expression of the hard work accomplished during the first quarter. Hope your little ones enjoy the reward programs offered by your local businesses. Enjoy the time with your family!

Question: What is your family’s favorite good grades reward? Please add your answer to the comments.