Summer is a great time to stay indoors and get lost in a book. Below are a number of FREE programs that encourage children to continue to read during the summer:
- Avenue 941 - Reading programs available at 5 locations in Manatee County. The Summer Reading Challenge is open to students in grades K-3rd who attend a Manatee County Public School.
- Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program - Children can read a designated number of books, write about their favorite part in our Reading Journal, and bring a completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore. Children then choose their free book from the books listed on the Reading Journal and collect their free book from a store near them during July and August.
- Bat City Comic Professionals - Print out a reading log to keep track of your summer reading for prizes. All kids who participate will get an invite to our Kids Summer Reading Wrap Up party in August! And adults - track the number of books you read for a chance to win a spot for you and a guest to attend our Adult End of Summer reading pizza party!
- Books A Million Wings of Fire Summer Reading Adventure - Kids choose any four books to read from the Summer Reading Adventure section, either in-store or online. Write about the books you've read in your Summer Reading Adventure Logbook. Show your completed Logbook to a store associate to receive your FREE hat.
- Book It Summer Reading - All parents with students in PreK-6th grade (ages 4-12) can enroll in Camp BOOK IT!, our reading program created to stop the summer slide. In June, July and August, parents can use our digital tools to track and reward their kids' reading with a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza®.
- Chuck E Cheese - Print out a variety of "reward" calendars (examples include Good Eater Calendar, Good Listener Calendar, Reading Awards Calendar, Potty Perfect Calendar and more!). When kids complete their goal bring in their completed calendar for 10 free play points on their next visit.
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- Dive Into Reading Programs - A June summer reading program that aims to improve children’s reading levels by combating “Summer Slide,” and continue his/her education over the summer break for 4 weeks. Students get paired with a mentor and spend time reading together.
- Manatee County Agricultural Museum - Farmer Rita’s Summer Recipe Race! Race against the clock to read 8 books and complete corresponding recipes before the summer runs out!
- Manatee County Library 2024 Summer Learning Program - Our Summer Reading Program launches June 1 for Manatee County children and teens ages 0-17! This year's theme is Adventure Begins at Your Library! Children will have the opportunity to become Library Adventurers—all of our Manatee Library locations will represent a different National Park. Enjoy milestone book prizes, engaging events, a chance to become a Kid Librarian, and Grand Prize entries. Participants are encouraged to read 20 hours or more, and for each 5 hours read, they are awarded a new book and entered into the Grand Prize drawing!
- Menchie's Frozen Yogurt (UTC) Sweet Reading Rewards Program - Join Menchie's for a Free frozen yogurt reward after you complete reading 10 books. Pick up a Sweet Reading Rewards slip from Menchie's Frozen Yogurt (UTC), write the title of 10 books you have read, have your parent sign it and bring it into Menchie's at UTC for a Free 6 oz Frozen Yogurt.
- Music Compound Rock Your Summer Reading Program - Area youth will have an opportunity to receive prizes for every 5 books they read June 1 - August 31. Music Compound has partnered with area businesses to provide special treats, one of kind experiences, and cool items as prizes. A grand prize drawing for a party for up to 20 people at Music Compound will be offered to individuals who read 50+ books. Download a reader passport by visiting MusicCompound.com.
- Playtime Plaza Book Club - A 10-week long FREE summer program for VPK through 2nd grade new readers! Every Monday from 4PM to 5PM - each week will be a new theme! Register today.
- Reading with the Rays - A summer program that encourages children to read. Get FREE Tampa Bay Rays tickets just for reading!
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- Sarasota County Libraries: Adventure Begins at your Library - Program for all ages. Complete four reading badges to claim prizes
- Scholastic Summer Reading Home Base - From May 9 through September 12, kids can visit the summer zone in Scholastic Home Base, a completely free digital destination which offers stories, characters, games, and a community of readers.
- "THIS BOOK IS COOL!” (TBIC!) Summer Reading Program - Looking for fun ways to keep your kid’s mind active all summer? Sign up for THIS BOOK IS COOL! It’s a FREE program for kiddos in grades Pre-K through 3rd in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.
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