FREE Summer reading programs and book logs for kids & teens — earn free books & more!!

As parents, we know that connecting kids with books throughout the summer is SUCH a good thing. Summer reading helps them to keep their vocab and comprehension skills strong so those first weeks back to school are much easier!

But honestly, keeping them reading can be a challenge with all the other fun activities they have going on — like the pool and friends and s’mores by the fire. Not to mention the availability of technology and the desire to get sticky, dirty and wet any chance they get 😉

Which is why this first post in our 100 Days of Free Summer Activities series includes awesome ideas that will not only inspire your kids to read but also allow us to retain our ‘cool Mom/Dad’ status without constantly bugging them to pick up a book!

2025 FREE Summer Reading Programs & Book Logs

There are a number of wonderful businesses that offer free books & other reading rewards or incentives for kids who read during the summer.

In most cases, you’ll just need to have your kids track their books on a reading log and then head to the store to exchange it for a free book or other fun things!

I often get a thumbs-up from my kids when I find them free things 😉

We’re including some of our favorite summer reading programs along with FREE book logs that offer a variety of challenges & a list of cool places to read all those pages this summer! We’ve also included affiliate links to some of our favorite books & items for summer reading too.

2025 Library Reading Programs Near Me

First, be sure to sign them up for summer reading at your local library!

This year’s theme is — Color Our World! which encourages a celebration of art and creativity! So many libraries will have an overlap of reading & creative arts programming for kids ages preschool thru teenagers.

Popular about art, creativity, colors and even biographies about famous artists from across the globe are perfect stories to add to your summer reading list this year. A few of our favorites include

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beauty and
What Do You Do With An Idea? by Koby Yamada

Kids & teens can read ANY book they want for the reading programs and libraries will have a paper log or online log where they can record their books (or use one of the free ones below!)

If you’re traveling this summer or just like to have e-books available, download the FREE Kindle Reading app that can be used on almost any phone or tablet!

And yes, listening to books counts as reading too!! If you have an Audible account, be sure to browse all the Children’s Audio Books available! If you don’t yet have an Audible account, you can start a FREE 30 day Audible trial & earn 2 books for free too!

All libraries offer different incentives but most really hit it big over the summer to keep kids of all ages — toddlers to teens — reading! Our kids have earned free books, coupons for ice cream, headphones and entries into some big giveaways (gift cards to a local bookstore and iPad minis)!

pssttt … many libraries also offer reading programs for adults too (with prizes!) No reason that the kids should have all the fun, right? So sign yourself up while you’re there ’cause you know reading at the pool or beach is gonna happen 😉

image credit: barnesandnoble.com

2025 Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

One of the most well known summer reading programs, kids ages 1st – 6th grades can read 8 books this summer and turn in the Barnes and Noble 2025 Summer Reading journal to earn a FREE book! The program officially begins in early May & they have a nice variety of books including picture books, early readers and chapter books.

I love that B&N always includes both newer titles (like the The Dragon’s Apprentice and Smile! A Graphic Novel) along with classic books (The Tail of Emily Windsnap is one of our all-time faves!) as some of their reading rewards! Kids can earn picture books, chapter books and even Level Readers (Pete the Cat’s Family Road Trip is on this year’s list). So even if your kids are set on reading the same type of books all summer, they are encouraged to ‘branch out’ to something new when choosing their free item.

The 2025 program runs through the end of August – plenty of time to squeeze in some reading!

image credit: halfpricebooks.com

2025 Summer Reading Camp at Half Price Books

Kids can participate in the Summer Camp reading program in June & July. Younger kids can be read to while older kids who can read on their own will record their reading time each month.

Register online and receive all the details by email or visit your local Half Price Books to pick up a summer reading log. You’ll also find coloring pages, a book store scavenger hunt and more on their website. The best part — kids earn Bookworm bucks (paper money they can use at a local Half Price Books) so they can buy their favorite books at the store!

Book bucks are either collected in person when you turn in your book log or are sent to your email account and can be used at your local Half Price Books store.

SYNC Free Audiobooks for Teens

Sadly, SYNC no longer offers this summer reading program. 🙁 Since it’s been a popular summer reading programs for kids and teens over the past 10 years, I just wanted to make sure to update you.

2025 Scholastic Reading Road Trip

Kids can register to log minutes & unlock rewards on the Scholastic Home Base Summer Reading site. This is usually something that a teacher sets up before the end of the school year.

The program runs from May 9th – September 12th and has a number of recommended reading lists for kids along with online games and activities that are related to many of their favorite books too!

RIF Summer Reading Challenge

The Reading in Fundamental (RIF) organization also has a fun summer reading challenge for kids! You’ll find grade level book recommendations, a reading scavenger hunt and support materials to help kids develop a love for reading.

Fun Book Lists for Summer Reading

If your kids are looking for ideas on WHAT to read this Summer, here are a few of our favorite book lists:

Now on to the FREE printable Book Logs for summer reading!

FREE Printable Summer Book Logs & Journals

Sometimes kids need a challenge — nothing HUGE or cumbersome since it’s summer. It inspires them to keep going, read a few more books or even get out of their current reading ‘funk’.

These are all free printable challenges that your kids will enjoy.

Some of perfect for younger kids while others are a great way for tweens & teens to vary what they’re reading.

Encourage your kids to ‘branch out’ with this FREE Genre Reading Challenge Book Log printable.

Inspire kids to Read Around the World with this book list that covers the globe!

The Measured Mom has an amazing summer challenge — Can You Read in 100 Places?!!

Kinderglynn has some fun coloring Reading logs that younger kids will LOVE to fill in this summer!

And 3 Dinosaurs has some beautiful weekly reading logs — great if you homeschool during the summer.

In addition to some awesome summer printables, Imagination Soup also has some fun summer reading reward coupons!

Meet Penny has a wonderful list of recommended books along with a Summer Reading BINGO game for kids.

If you’re heading to the library this summer, try these challenges:

- Library Non-fiction Reading Challenge & Scavenger Hunt
- 9 Library Adventure Challenges — Growing Book by Book
- Library Reading Tour — A Mom with a Lesson Plan

How Can I Get Kids to Read this Summer?

One of the most effective ways to get kids to read during the summer is to offer them super fun reading spots! Here’s a list of free & fun places that kids will enjoy cuddling up with a book along with affiliate links to a few of our favorite reading items:

In a pillow fort
In your closet
At the pool
At the park on a picnic — we always take our Fold & Carry Picnic Blanket with us for easy reading set-up!
Outside on a blanket
At the beach — here’s a cool beach book list for them too!
On car trips
When you attend an outdoor summer story time (usually hosted at your local library)
In a tent — here’s a great list of books for camping & tents !
Outside – at night – with a flashlight!
In a hammock (one of our favorite spots!)

And reading doesn’t always have to be books either!

Encourage your kids to read the back of the cereal box, signs at the pool, the flavors of ice cream if you’re out for a treat — reading can happen in lots of places during the summer.

Be sure to visit our kick-off post where you’ll find a free printable Summer Activity calendar —

The $0 Summer: 100 Free Activities that Make Awesome Memories!

Your kids will also enjoy these free summer scavenger hunts. Just print off the ones that fit your summer outings & have them read the clues they need to find 😉