The Best Summer Reading Programs for Kids Who Love Freebies

Summer can be a tricky time for families. On the one hand, adults want to give kids the time they need to rest their minds and revive themselves for the next school year. On the other, there’s fears about the dreaded “summer slide,” and the notion that if kids don’t keep working out the academic part of their brains, they could lose gains they made over the previous year.

Reading for fun just might be the happy medium that satisfies everybody. On the one hand, kids get to pick the books they love and delve into the imaginary worlds that excite them. On the other, it’ll keep their brains working during those long days, and keep them sharp for when back-to-school season rolls around.

But even leisure reading can be a hard sell during the long break—and kids might need some extra motivation. For those who are inspired by prizes, these are the best summer reward programs for kid readers. Not only will they get to enjoy their favorite stories, they’ll earn more books–or pizza, or play time—for doing it.

To earn a prize, as in previous summers, kids will have to complete eight books and fill out a journal in order to earn a free book. But this year there’s a twist: There’s a recommendation portion to the challenge, which, as someone who works at a brand known for its rigorous product reviews, I appreciate. (Hey, kid recommendations is how we decide our Good Housekeeping Best Kids’ Book Award winners!)

Here’s how it works: Every time a kid completes two books, they fill in their journal with a little bit about which book they liked better and why, then they turn it into the store for a sticker. Their recommendations might actually be put on display in the store, which adds another neat little thrill. When they’ve collected a full slate of four stickers, they can redeem their journal for a free book from a pre-approved list. They can also use their journal to crown their favorite book of the summer.

The details: The program is active from July 1 to August 31, for kids in grades 1 through 6.

Learn More About Barnes & Noble's Summer Reading Free Book Giveaway

Adults may remember this one from their own childhood summers. (A BOOK IT! log was even included as one of the Y2K American Girl Doll historical accessories, which I consider a personal attack.) Now, the program is back—and celebrates kids’ love of reading with a little treat.

To get started, adults must download the BOOK IT! app (available for iOS and Android), and then set a monthly reading goal for each child. When they hit their goals, they’ll earn a coupon for a free, single-topping personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. Getting kids to read and having dinner sorted? Sounds like a win-win.

The details: The program is open to kids from pre-k to sixth grade, from June 1 to August 31. Only one pizza per child may be earned per month, and there’s a limit to five per family each month.

Learn More About Pizza Hut's BOOK IT! Summer of Stories Program

Families don’t have to live near a Half Price Books location to participate in the Summer Reading Camp. They can still register online and receive information about activities and rewards.

There’s more than just suggested reading lists. They really take the “camp” part of things seriously, and there are coloring pages, ideas for activities, a bookstore scavenger hunt, and more. Seriously, even if the kids aren’t big readers, it might be worth registering just to get access to some of the rainy-day activity ideas. But if they are readers, they could also get started earning $5 in “Bookworm Bucks.”

The details: The Reading Camp is open to kids ages 18 and under, and it runs through June and July.

Learn More About Half Price Books's Summer Reading Camp

Grated, this doesn’t actually have to take place over the summer—it’s available during any two-week period through December 31. But the prospect of a trip to Chuck E. Cheese may get them to pick up a book during those lazy summer days.

This program is relatively low lift: Kids have to fill out a calendar saying how much they’ve read every day for two weeks. There’s no set amount; families can decide for themselves how many minutes of reading “counts.” If they do it every day for two weeks, they can redeem their calendar for 10 extra play points (with any food purchase). For kids who are big into rewards, Chuck E. Cheese actually has lots of calendars and sticker charts that parents can lean on when they need to boost their kids’ motivation.

The details: The Reading Rewards are available through December 31. Only one calendar can be redeemed per kid, per day. The free Play Points are only available with food purchase.

Learn More About Chuck E. Cheese’s Reading Rewards

"Summer is the perfect time to nurture that love of reading, keeping young minds engaged and growing even when school is out," says Brenna Feltman Books-A-Million’s children’s book buyer. "Programs like Books-A-Million’s Summer Reading Adventure make it fun and rewarding for kids to pick up a book, helping them develop the skills and habits that will stay with them for years to come. Having Erin Hunter as this year’s Reading Ambassador adds extra excitement as any school-age child will share that this is a series that you can’t put down!” For those who don't know, Erin Hunter is the author of the popular Warriors fantasy series (my daughter is obsessed). But even those who aren't familiar with the Warrior cats can still earn freebies for every four books they read.

The details: Kids can choose four books from the Summer Reading Adventure feature in store or online. They must write about each book in a Summer Reading Adventure logbook, then turn it into a store associate in person to receive a free gift. The program runs May 11 to August 2.

Learn More About Books-a-Million's Be a Summer Reading Warrior Program

• Though they haven’t announced anything official for 2026, Scholastic usually offers some kind of summer reading incentive, so they may be worth keeping an eye on.
• Many major league sports teams have their own summer reading programs, including the Dodgers, Nationals, Rays, Seahawks—check out local teams for the opportunity to win prizes!
• Panda Express offers free Kids’ Meals to kids who read five books, but their teacher has to enroll the whole class and dole out the rewards.
• Mensa will give a certificate and a free t-shirt to kids who complete its Excellence in Reading program.
• Many local libraries also offer their own summer challenges—and even if they don’t, they’re a great place to visit to find books that’ll help kids earn all the other rewards.