Photograph Credit: TD Bank

Now this is my kind of reading program. For those in the northeastern United States, TD Bank is offering $10 to young readers for reading 10 books. Cool, can I be a kid again? Earning money for reading is awesome. To participate, read these details from TD Bank’s web site:

• Read 10 books this summer
• Write down the names of the books they’ve read in the Summer Reading Form
• Print and take the form to your nearest TD Bank to get $10
• $10 will be deposited into a new or existing Young Saver Account

The fine print also states:

• One coupon per Customer during promotional period.
• Cannot be combined with any other offers.
• Valid May 4, 2011 through September 30, 2011.
• Bring form of ID for child for new account opening.

TD Bank suggests the following books regarding money and savings:

• If You Made a Million by David M. Schwartz
• Lemonade for Sale by Stuart J. Murphy
• Willie Wins by Almira Astudillo Gilles
• Jelly Beans for Sale by Bruce McMillan
• Pig Pig Gets a Job by David M. McPhail
• Make Four Million Dollars by Next Thursday by Stephen Manes
• A Dollar for Penny by Julie Glass
• Money Trouble by Bill Cosby
• The Can Man by Laura E. Williams

For those of you who live near a participating location, I encourage you to help your children read the 10 books, visit your local branch, and instill the benefits of saving the $10 earned. If your family participates and earns prizes, please come back to share your prizes in the comments.

Another summer reading program for students 14 years and younger is offered by Half Price Books. With all these summer reading programs, your student can enjoy many rewards for his/her efforts. Using time wisely working toward the reading goal will result in wonderful rewards when the goal is reached. Keep aiming for the goal!

Photograph Credit: Half Price Books

Here’s how kids 14 and under can participate:

1. Get a Feed Your Brain Reading Log and set a goal to read each day for at least 15 minutes or more throughout June and July. Grown-ups may read aloud for kids who are still learning.
2. Join us for our Feed Your Brain kick off on Sunday, June 5 at 2 pm for the Biggest Storytime of the Summer at your local Half Price Books.
3. Add up your minutes and have your parent or guardian initial at the end of each week.
4. Check-in at your local Half Price Books store to find more great books to Feed Your Brain throughout the summer!
5. Did you read 600 minutes or more? Turn in your completed reading log at Half Price Books July 25 – August 7 to receive your $5 Back-to-School Bucks summer reading reward!
6. Do you think you’re a Top Reader this summer? We’ll award one top reader per age group with a TOP READER prize, a $20 HPB Gift Card!

Finding something to read for 15 minutes each day amay seem difficult if you are looking for individual books. If you choose to read each day, try to start a series. For my little ones, I read a chapter of a Nancy Drew book or a Hardy Boy book each night. Sometimes, I will read more than one chapter if they ask or need a little more time to fall asleep. We enjoy the adventures and look forward to the resolution to the mystery. These mystery books have been enjoyable for my family. I hope you will find books or a series that works for your family. Happy reading!

To encourage students in using time wisely by reading and learning this summer, a number of organizations have developed Summer Reading Programs. The bookstore giant Barnes & Noble offers a free book for reading 8 books.

Photograph Credit: Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is here to help you on your way, encouraging you to read books of your own choosing and earn a FREE book, simply by following these three easy steps:

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

2. Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 24 and September 6, 2011.

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

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