Summer vacation is right around the corner and it’s a great time to start planning different activities for your kids. Summer reading programs hosted by local public libraries and businesses are a fantastic way to encourage your children to read (or be read to) and earn prizes for doing it!
Jen from Thrifty NW Mom, Karrie from Happy Money Saver and I have teamed up to bring you the most comprehensive list of summer reading programs in the Pacific Northwest. In this post, I have listed national summer reading programs as well as local programs in Western Oregon and SW Washington.
Head to Thrifty NW Mom for a list of Puget Sound programs and Happy Money Saver for a list of Eastern Washington and Central and Eastern Oregon programs.
National Summer Reading Programs
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Imagination’s Destination
Kids earn a FREE book when they read eight. Click the link above for more information and to download the reading journal. The site also includes downloadable activities.
iVillage PBS Kids Summer Reading Community Challenge
Kids get discounts, free downloads of PBS kids shows and daily chances to win prizes.
Kids who meet the challenge to read five books over the summer will be eligible to win a summer fun prize package. The site also includes games, activities, reading lists and more.
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Log in minutes read to enter the Summer Reading Challenge for a chance to win prizes.
Print a reward chart and kids get 10 Check E. Cheese tokens upon completion. There are also incentive charts for just about anything you want your kids to do.
Kids 14 & under can read 15 minutes or more a day through June & July. If they read 600 minutes or more, they can turn in their completed reading log at Half Price Books between to receive $5 in Back-to-School Bucks to use at the store.
Children can read independently at home using the PBK recommended reading list. When they complete the recommended reading list, they can receive a free book. Also, they have story time every Tuesday from 11-11:30am & they will receive an official Book Club Passport to mark off. If they attend 5 story times, they will receive a special gift.
Western Oregon & SW Washington Summer Reading Programs
MULTNOMAH COUNTY
Visit any Multnomah County Library after June 15 to sign-up and get a reading game board. Reach a prize marker on the game board and visit the library for a reward, which includes books, passes for free activities and food coupons for local restaurants. Finishers also receive a t-shirt.
Each of the following libraries have slightly different prizes and timelines. Many locations are also hosting special summer programs, usually one per week.
CLACKAMAS COUNTY
- West Linn Public Library
- Wilsonville Public Library
- Oregon City Public Library
- Gladstone Public Library
- Lake Oswego Public Library
- Canby Public Library
- Oak Ridge & Sunnyside Libraries
WASHINGTON COUNTY
- Beaverton City Library
- Forest Grove City Library
- Sherwood Public Library
- Tigard Public Library
- Tualatin Public Library
- Hillsboro Public Library
- General Washington County program info
YAMHILL COUNTY
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
- Salem Public Library
- Dallas Public Library
- Springfield Public Library
- Albany Public Library
- Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
- Eugene Public Library
COLUMBIA COUNTY
OREGON COAST
- Newport Public Library
- Seaside Public Library
- Tillamook County Library
- Astoria Public Library
- Driftwood Public Library (Lincoln City)
COLUMBIA RIVER AREA
SOUTHERN OREGON
SW WASHINGTON
- Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (Battle Ground, Vancouver, Goldendale, La Center, North Bonneville, Ridgefield, Stevenson, Washougal, White Salmon, and Woodland Libraries)
- Camas Public Library
- Longview Public Library
- Kelso Library
Find Puget Sound programs here and Eastern Washington and Central and Eastern Oregon programs here.
If you have a link to your town or city’s summer reading program in Western Oregon or SW Washington, please comment with it and I will add it to the list!
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Play initfmaorve for me, Mr. internet writer.
Thank you for the very useful list. I hope the 2013 list will be available soon! The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District has a new page for its Summer Reading information this year at:
http://fvrl.ent.sirsi.net/client/default/?rm=SUMMER+READING0|||1|||0|||true
Here is a list of some Summer Reading Programs in lower Willamette Valley, Oregon.
http://willamettevalleysavers.blogspot.com/2012/06/summer-reading-clubs.html
thank you for this! I’m going to get right on it!