The Best 2026 FREE Summer Reading Rewards Programs for Kids

Inside: Fun free summer reading rewards programs for elementary students with reading incentives kids will love.

Reading incentives are a great way to help encourage kids to read more during the summer and give them some fun prizes for it too!

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I remember when I was growing up doing a reading rewards program to get a free ticket to a waterpark. I was always so excited to complete the reading challenge and get that ticket I worked so hard for.

Now as a mom it’s so fun to see my kids excitement as they work to get their summer reading rewards.

Each summer we do several different reading rewards programs and it’s something the kids really look forward to.

Free Summer Reading Programs

Summer reading programs are a great way to keep kids reading and learning during the summer, no matter if you’re still doing school or taking a summer break.

We always love participating in summer reading rewards programs it helps us be sure to spend time reading during the summer. Plus the kids love getting prizes for reading.

Today I’m sharing some summer reading rewards programs that can help your kids get excited about reading.

These summer reading programs typically run from May or June through August each summer.

The Best Summer Reading Rewards Programs

Here are some of the best (in my opinion) summer reading rewards programs with awesome reading incentives for kids.

The Good and The Beautiful
Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program for Kids
Pizza Hut Reading Program (camp book it!)
Chuck E. Cheese Reward Calendar
Local Libraries
Half Price Books
Texas Roadhouse
Scholastic Summer Reading
Panda Express Read With Me

Free Summer Reading Programs (National Programs)

Keep reading to learn more about reading rewards programs and the details for each of the programs I mentioned in the list.

The Good and the Beautiful Summer Reading Program

Get a Book With The Good and The Beautiful Summer Reading Program

Each year The Good and The Beautiful does a summer reading program. You can can download the pdf version for free or you can pay inexpensive shipping (around $2) and they will send you the tracker and a new book for the prize.

Each summer TGTB gives away 100,000 books as part of this program. The books do run out so order yours early. (Ordering the program starts the beginning of May). Get the program and details here.

Pizza Hut Summer Reading Rewards

Kids Earn a Free Personal Pan Pizza for Reading Each Month This Summer

What kid doesn’t love pizza? The Pizza Hut Book It! reading program is one of my kid’s favorites. Parents of kids in preschool through sixth grade (ages 4-12) can enroll their children in the summer reading program.

Use the app to track and reward your children’s reading. Your child can earn a free one-topping personal pan pizza in June, July, and August for completing reading goals. Sign up for the pizza hut program here.

*Homeschool parents and teachers you can sign up your kids/class for the school year program too!

Barns and Noble Summer Reading Program

Get a Free Book from Barns and Noble for Reading this Summer!

The Barns and Noble Summer reading program is for kids in grades 1 through 6.

This year the Barns and Noble summer reading program has changed a little bit. Instead of filling out the journal with 8 books and going into the store to get your reward you’re filling out a book bracket.

You can print off the reading journal or pick one up in stores. This year kids will still read 8 books, but they will be filling out a bracket and picking a favorite book for each set of 2. After each matchup of books, they need to return to the store to get a sticker.

After reading 8 books and visiting the store 4 times to get stickers kids will get a free book as a prize.

Chuck E. Cheese Rewards

Get 10 Free Play Points at Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck E. Cheese has a bunch of Rewards Calendars you can use to help your kids with different things like doing chores or habits (like reading!). Simply print off the rewards calendar you want and mark off the days with a pen or sticker when your child meets their goal.

Take the completed reward to your local Chuck E. Cheese and get 10 free play points (which used to be free tokens). Playing with the play points kids can earn digital tickets and trade them in for fun prizes.

*You must make a food purchase to get the free play points.

Library Summer Reading Programs

Local Libraries Have Fun Reading Programs with Prizes from local businesses

Don’t forget to check your public library to see if they have a summer reading rewards program!

Many libraries have reading programs for all ages including elementary, middle school, and high school students. Our library summer reading program has an awesome program with weekly rewards, many of which are to local businesses.

Plus don’t forget to ask your local librarian for a suggested reading list many libraries have grade-level book lists with multiple book titles to choose from.

Half Price Books Reading Program for a Fun Prize

Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp is a free summer program where you get free downloads and printable booklists, crafts, activities, and coloring pages. Sign up for the program here it starts in June.

You can also visit your local Half Price Books Store to get a copy of the Camper’s Summer Reading Log, cool camp stickers, and information on how to earn $5 Bookworm Bucks in June and July!

Panda Express Reading Program

Teachers and Homeschool Parents sign up for the Read with Me Panda Express Reading Program

Enroll in the Panda Express Read with Me program online. This reading program is for kids PreK-5th grade in a classroom setting.

This program is available for both public school kids and homeschool kids. (So make sure your kids teacher knows about it!)

Teachers can enroll in the program throughout the summer and school year. Once you apply it may take a few days to get approved.

Once kids complete a reading goal (online the goal of reading 5 books is suggested) they can get a code for a free Panda Express Kids meal. Sign up and get all the details here.

Texas Rhodehosue Reading Rewards

Kids Can Get a Free Texas Roadhouse Kids Meal (at some locations)

I haven’t found anything online about the Texas Roadhouse summer reading program. Our local Texas Roadhouse has had coupons for a free kids meal when kids read 3 books.

We found the flyers at our local restaurant and at the local library. So be sure to call or visit your local restaurant and see if they have a summer reading program.

Join Books A Million Reading Adventure for a Prize at Your Local Store

Check with your local Books A Million for details about this summer’s program or get the printable reading log online. Read and log 4 books and writing about them in your summer reading log.

After completing the reading log show the logbook at your local books a million store to get a prize.

Wendy’s Book Club

Turn in a completed card for a frosty

I haven’t found anything online about the Wendy’s Book Club program. But we have gotten these cards at local Wendy’s stores so be sure to check and see if your Wendy’s does anything like this.

Mensa for Kids

Join Mensa for Kids’ Excellence in Reading and get a T-shirt

Select a grade level (it doesn’t have to be the grade you’re in choose based on ability level and interest) print the list and track your reading. Record the date you read the book along with a star rating.

After finishing the entire list mail, it in and you will get a T-shirt. This is a year-round reading program so you don’t have to read the whole list this summer.

Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge

Join the Usha Vance in the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge. Kids read 12 books and will receive a personalized certificate, an America 250th anniversary-themed bookmark, and a special link to receive a prize!

Create Your Own Summer Reading Rewards Program For Your Kids

There are several different ways you can create a summer reading rewards program for your kids. Just take a look at Pinterest if you need some inspiration.

A fast and easy way to create the program is using a printable summer reading log. Simply decide your prizes and add them into the chart and you’re ready to get started.

One of my favorite ways to do a reading program is to set monthly reading goals and then at the end of the month, the kids get a prize, often an outing or adventure.

The best part of creating your own reading program is that it can be for any age, not just specific grade levels. Plus you can keep the reading program going all year long to give your kids a little motivation to spend time reading.

Grab my Summer Reading Bundle here.

Reading Programs for Specific Regions, States and Areas

These are some of the reading programs I’ve learned about that are just for those living in specific areas of the country. Check them out to see if any are in your area. If you know of a program, I missed that should be on the list let me know!

Utah Fair Read and Win

Kids in grades 1-6 read 10 books and submit the form by the end of July to receive:

ONE CHILDREN’S ADMISSION TICKET to the Utah State Fair*
ONE FREE DRINK coupon
ONE FREE CARNIVAL RIDE
ONE FREE RIDE ON THE GIANT YELLOW SLIDE
RIBBON BOOKMARK
ONE utah state fair sticker

Tampa Bay Rays Summer Reading

Reading with the Rays is a fun summer reading program for those in Florida

Reading with the Tampa Bay Rays Summer reading program partnered with Suncoast Credit Union has a fun reading program where kids can earn different prizes check here for details. This is a summer reading program for those in the Tampa area.

Dodgers Reading Champions

Fun summer reading program for those in specific cities in California.

Sing up kids in k-8 and track their reading to be eligible for fun Dodger prizes. Be sure to check the details and make sure you live in the right area before signing up.

Not Confirmed Reading Programs

Scholastic Summer Reading

I haven’t been able to find anything about the reading program for 2026 but definitely check their website for updates.

Details from last year: The Scholastic summer reading program has grown and changed over the years. Currently, the program offers an online reading log, activities, and digital rewards to kids who keep a reading streak.

You can find the details about the reading program on the scholastic website. The program usually starts in May and goes through August.

No Longer Continued Summer Reading Rewards Programs

These are summer reading rewards programs that haven’t been updated in a couple of years.

I haven’t been able to find any recent information about them but it might still be worth looking into and contacting them if they are in your local area.

Six Flags Read to Succeed

Six Flags Read to Succeed is a program that encourages students in grades K through 6 to read for fun. Students who complete six hours of recreational reading earn a free ticket to Six Flags. The program is available to teachers and schools at no cost. It’s available for both traditional schools and homeschools.

Sadly I haven’t found any current information about the six flags read to succeed program. It looks like the program may have been discontinued.

Cap Com Federal Credit Union

Kids in grades Kindergarten through grade 12 can earn up to $10 ($2 per book) during the Fall, Winter, and Summer Programs ($30 per year).

Joining this reward program isn’t location-specific but you must have an active Youth Account. So this program will most likely work best for those local to the credit union in the New York area. Get all the details here.

The Cap Com Federal Credit Union website has been updated and I can no longer find details about this program. But it would be worth asking about it if you bank there.

Pottery Barn Kids Book Club

Pottery Barn kid’s story time programs are run year-round and after attending 5 events you will get a special surprise. At our Pottery Barn after getting 5 stamps in your book, you get $10 off any item in the store.

I can’t find anything about the story time program since the event was stopped in 2020. Be sure to check the pottery barn kids website and social media posts to see if they start the program again. You could also ask about it at your local store.

Amazon Summer Reading Challenge

In the past the Amazon Summer Reading Challenge worked by having kids read 7 books and once completed they got a certificate and a National Geographic Kids book. I haven’t seen any updates on this program since 2021.

Subway Reading Incentive Program

It has been several years since I have found anything about this reading rewards program. So it looks like it has been discontinued.

Am I missing any Summer Reading Programs? Please let me know in the comments so I can add them to the list!

How to Find Reading Incentive Programs for Kids

Looking for more summer reading programs? Talking to parents, teachers, and businesses in your area is a great way to find out about special events and programs for kids. Social media especially local parenting groups and pages are another great way to find out about reading programs.

Also be sure to check local banks, sports teams, and libraries for reading programs. In our area, there are also a couple of toy stores that have fun reading clubs and do story times for young readers throughout the year.

More Fun Ways To Keep Kids Learning This Summer

Summer reading programs are a great way to keep kids learning during the summer. A couple of other fun educational activities I like to do with my kids during the summer include:

ABC Mouse and Adventure Academy – these educational apps are perfect for making screen time educational. I personally love having these apps for my kids to play when we are traveling (road trip or flying).

50 States Unit Study – We are having a lot of fun learning about different states with worksheets, activities, crafts and food. You can see what we did for our study of Utah here.

Stack the States 2 – this is one of my kids favorite games to play on the iPad and it’s educational fun for the whole family.