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.
Borders’ Double-Dog Dare Summer Reading Program
Kids earn a FREE book when they read ten. Valid at Borders or Waldenbooks.
Kids who meet the challenge to read five books over the summer will be eligible to win a summer fun prize package.
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Log in minutes read to enter the Summer Reading Challenge for a chance to win a Klutz book pack. Kids can also complete weekly challenges 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 thru June & July. If they read 600 minutes or more, they can turn in their completed reading log at Half Price Books between July 25 – August 7th to receive $5 in Back-to-School Bucks to use at the store.
Children can read independently at home using their 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 17 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.
I have found the prizes at Multnomah County libraries to be sweet — probably the best I’ve seen out there.
All libraries in Oregon & SW Washington, with the exception of Multnomah County, are using the One World, Many Stories reading program this summer. Each library has 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
- Woodburn Public Library
- Gladstone Public Library
- Lake Oswego Public Library
- Canby Public Library
- Clackamas Corner Branch
WASHINGTON COUNTY
- Beaverton City Library
- Forest Grove City Library
- Sherwood Public Library
- Tigard Public Library
- Tualatin Public Library
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
This is by no means a comprehensive list. If you have a link to your town or city’s summer reading program, please comment with it and I will add it to the list!
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I should also mention that every public library in Washington County has a reading club. There are reading clubs for babies, kids, teens, and adults. It’s not too late to join!
Here’s the main link:
http://www.wccls.org/srp
Does anyone know if there are reading programs at one of the Hillsboro Library?
Definitely! Visit either Hillsboro Main or Shute Park library to learn more about their summer reading program. Here’s some info online: http://www.hillsboro.plinkit.org/kids/summer-reading-intro.html
Powell’s @ Cedar Hills Crossing has Summer Reading Club 2011. When your kid read 5 books, he/she would get 20% off coupon.
The Sno-Isle Library District for Snohomish and Island counties has a fun program too:
http://www.sno-isle.org/?ID=5677
Do you have to be a certain age to do these? My daughter is 5 months, and was thinking it would count if we read to her. I read through some of the rules on the different programs and didn’t see anything, does anyone know for sure?
All the programs include children being read to, so you should be good. Double check though to make sure age 1 is the not the youngest.
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene Public Library Summer Reading program (for kids and adults)
http://www.eugene-or.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=489&PageID=4331&parentname=CommunityPage&parentid=0&cached=true&mode=2&userID=2
Thanks for the great guide. I should looks into local reading events.