Of course, we've all heard about the dreaded "summer slide", but it can be a challenge to keep kids reading during the summer. However, reading over summer break can help prevent both boredom and learning loss by maintaining reading skills and keeping kids' minds active.
Thankfully, our local library and many national companies are helping to motivate kids to read this summer by offering challenges and rewards. If you're looking for an easy way to sneak some learning into your summer, check out these programs and see if one of them will work for your child.
Get Your FREE Summer Reading Challenge Bookmarks
These printable bookmarks turn reading into a fun challenge with prompts like: Read a mystery, a superhero story, or a book recommended by a friend.
It’s simple, fun, and gives them just enough structure without feeling like school.
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Download the FREE bookmarks →
Martin County Library
Who: Kids, teens, and adults
When: May 29–August 9, 2026
The Reward: Elementary kids log each day they read to earn a free book after 5, 10, and 20 days of reading. After 30 days, they get an invitation to the Summer Reading Finale Party and one free-admission pass to Sailfish Splash Waterpark. For middle and high schoolers, each book review they submit will count as 1 hour of volunteer time and as an entry in the $50 Barnes & Noble gift card raffle. Teens can submit up to 50 book reviews. For adults, they can earn a drawing to win a variety of $50 gift cards after checking off at least 6 activities on the Beanstack list.
How: Download the Beanstack Tracker app to track kids' reading or submit book reviews, or go to mcls.beanstack.org to register and track reading. Click here to read all the details.
Barnes and Noble
Who: Kids in grades 1–6
When: July 1–August 31, 2026
The Reward: A free book from a predetermined list from Barnes & Noble (limit one per child).
How: Kids will read any eight books and visit Barnes & Noble 4 times this summer, and record it in their printed Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Journal. Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store from July 1 through August 31, 2026, to redeem your book. Please note that the free book must be chosen from the provided list and is available while supplies last.
Pizza Hut
Who: PreK–6th grade students
When: June–August 2026
The Reward: A free single-topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut.
How: Download the BOOK IT!® mobile app and complete the registration form to get started. Parents will set reading goals, track progress, and redeem rewards through the app. Only one Personal Pan Pizza® may be earned per eligible child, per month, for meeting their reading goal, with a limit of 5 certificates per family, per month.
Chuck E. Cheese
Who: Kids
When: Year-Round
The Reward: 10 free Play Points
How: There are a variety of logs and trackers that parents can print and use—click here to view them. You can only redeem 1 certificate per child per day, and you must make a food purchase to redeem it.
The New York Times
Who: Middle and high school students (ages 13–19)
When: June 5–August 14, 2026
The Reward: Your child's work could be published on The Learning Network and shared with the original journalist
How: Every Friday for 10 weeks beginning on June 5, 2026, the New York Times will publish a post asking the same question: "What got your attention in The Times this week?" Contestants can choose to read and respond to any Times article, essay, video, graphic, podcast, or photograph published in 2026 in print. Responses can be an essay up to 1,500 characters or a video up to 90 seconds. Read all the rules and guidelines here.
Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Program
Who: All readers under 18 years of age
When: Year-round
The Reward: A commemorative certificate and an Excellence in Reading t-shirt
How: To participate, kids choose a provided list, read all of the books on the list, and complete the tracking form by hand. Once completed with an adult signature, you must mail the list and order form to the Mensa Foundation. Find the printable lists here.
Make Your Own Summer Reading Challenge
Use our free printable bookmarks to make up your own challenge and prizes! You can design your own bookmark with family reading goals or use one of our pre-made challenges.
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