Challenge Accepted: Summer Reading Incentives

The year was 2000. Pizza Hut had a salad bar and a pinball machine. School was out for summer and I brought in my Book It! card to Pizza Hut for a free personal pan pizza — and that is how we kicked off our summer vacation. Fast forward 23 years, Pizza Hut has changed their BookIt program, school is out, but summer reading is ALWAYS in.

Summertime is more than camps and vacations. It’s also a great opportunity to bond with your children and invite them into different worlds and settings. In 2022, the state of Florida launched an initiative to increase literacy rates in both adults and children. To prevent students from “falling behind,” many local businesses and organizations have programs with incentives to encourage students to read over the summer. Here is a list of how you can promote summer reading for your children while school is out.

BOOK IT! with Pizza Hut

The Book It! Program is back and serves students pre-K through 6th grade nationwide. During the summer months of June, July, and August, any child who meets their parent-set reading goals can earn a free Pizza Hut® single-topping Personal Pan Pizza®* from participating locations. Use the BOOK IT!® Mobile App to set goals, track progress, and redeem rewards.

Read USA

READ USA began as a small project between one community volunteer and a teacher at George Washington Carver Elementary School (GWCES) in Duval County, Florida. READ USA has evolved into an established organization with multiple staff members focused on closing the literacy gap in Duval County through four programs: Book Choice and Ownership, a Literacy Tutoring Program, Multicultural Literacy Programming, and Literacy Professional Development for Educators. They made a convenient Parent Guide to help encourage your children to read during the summer, along with a Student Activity Book you can download!

The Jacksonville Public Library

The Jacksonville Public Library serves as a pillar of the community. It provides countless resources for families, and during the summertime, it’s the place to be for reading! Their Little Readers event starts with a story that your child will love, and adds music, gets everyone up and moving, and sprinkles in other fun to make it all stick. Some locations have the chance to get free books or prizes simply for attending, as an extra incentive. You can contact your closest public library to see when the next Little Readers event is, as times and locations vary.

St. Johns County Public Library

The St. Johns County Public Library just launched its Summer Reading Program. This program runs through July 25 and features tons of educational events. Additionally, there are regularly scheduled story times, book clubs, and STEAM activities. St. Johns County Public Library promotes a family-centered and inclusive environment for all to read and learn together. Participants can go to any branch or bookmobile stop to pick up their free reading logs. By tracking your summer reading, your child can earn prizes for every five days of reading!

University of Florida Literacy Institute

The University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) is an ongoing effort by UF faculty and students to improve literacy outcomes for struggling students by addressing two key areas: reader development and teacher development. This evidence-based program began in 1998 as a tutoring model for struggling beginning readers. Today, it encompasses a variety of literacy projects, including tutoring and instructional models for struggling readers. If your child scored below a three on their FAST exams, they may qualify for free resources and books to help them over the summer!

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

Earn free books at Barnes & Noble! Your child simply reads a designated number of books — library books, books borrowed from friends, or books bought at Barnes & Noble — and write about their favorite part in the B&N Reading Journal. Once they bring a completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore, they can 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. Download the B&N Reading Journal here!

Scholastic Summer Reading

Scholastic Summer Reading offers kids an exciting, free, and safe summer reading experience while helping to provide books to kids with limited or no access over the summer, keeping every child reading. Visit the Home Base for stories, games, and community. Keep track of your books. Read e-books. Meet favorite characters and authors. Print reading achievement reports and enter to win some pretty incredible prizes. It is completely free and is moderated for safety 24/7!

Other Ways to Get Your Kiddos to Read

Anything can be a book! I know that sounds crazy, but you can read just about anything. Menus at a restaurant. Magazines in line at the store. Books in the store. Shampoo bottles when using the bathroom. Anything can be read.

Create a challenge at home. Reading is fun, but for kids, it’s even more fun when there is a reward at the end of their hard work. My son is 4, so reading to him is still in the very early stages. However, I am a firm believer that you are never too young to embark on your own adventure with books. Here are some ways I’ve promoted reading in my own home:

• Read together every night.
• Swap the tablet for a book, ESPECIALLY IN THE CAR. Flying to your family’s favorite vacation spot? Books are a great way to spark imagination and creativity to prepare for the adventure ahead.
• Find books related to your child’s interests and keep in mind that interests change!
• Audiobooks are a secret weapon for even the most successful adults. This is my husband’s preferred method of reading when traveling to and from the office.
• Set aside specific time to read together during the day.
• Read by example. (Get it?)

Be sure to choose a goal and your own incentives (within reason). For instance, if Mark “reads” five books during afternoon quiet time over the week, I will take him to get ice cream on Friday at our favorite local ice cream shop, or a special trip to Sunshine Park in Jax Beach. Here is a list of some possible challenge incentives for you to initiate in your own summer reading challenge:

• Challenge: Summer Reading Bingo | Reward: Extra screen time
• Challenge: 10 Book Challenge | Reward: No Chores for a day
• Challenge: 20 Book Challenge | Reward: Special trip to a favorite park
• Challenge: Read to the Family (Mom, Dad, the dog, etc.) Challenge | Reward: One small new toy from Target
• Challenge: 100 minutes of Reading| Reward: Bake Your Favorite Treat Day

Reading comes with great benefits at every stage of life. In the NICU, it promotes bonding. In childhood, it sparks the imagination, builds confidence, and strengthens social skills. In adulthood, it improves communication, is used as a pathway to learning, and serves as an escape from reality.

The earlier we introduce children to books and reading, the more likely we are to set them up for a bright future. It is our job to allow them to explore and learn to figure out answers on their own. It is our job to equip them and arm them, even with the knowledge and wisdom to formulate their own ideas and shape their own perspectives. The most efficient and effective way to do that is through reading books.

Doctor Who (Ten) said it best, “You want weapons. We’re in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have.”

Happy summer reading!