“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.”
—Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Wondering how to counteract the pull of television and video games this summer? Check out the summer reading programs in San Antonio. There are a variety of options—from free programs that challenge kids to read and earn prizes, to paid academic programs to help improve reading. There are free discussion guides online (a la book club format) you and your children can do at home. Something for everyone!
FREE SUMMER READING PROGRAMS
San Antonio Public Library
The Mayor’s Summer Reading Program and Summer Reading Club is for all ages, including adults. This program features suggested book lists, gatherings with various performers at local branch libraries, and a concluding celebration at each location between July 26-August 2. Sign up June 1 and after at your local library or online.
Readers who complete eight books will receive a certificate signed by Mayor Taylor and a free paperback book. Listeners who complete 15 books will receive the same.
Story Time Stampede
Gather ’round at the Briscoe Western Art Museum for family time fun. For the younger crowd, this special family fun time combines monthly themes with reading, activity, and play stations. Adults can download a book for themselves from the Digital Library Wallpaper located in the portal. Attendees will also enjoy free admission to the Briscoe Western Art Museum after participating in Story Time Stampede. Active throughout the year, check it out this summer on Saturdays from 2-4pm. Click for more info or call 210 207 2500.
The Twig Summer Reading Program
The Twig Book Shop’s own storyteller, Miss Anastasia, heads this summer reading program geared toward preschool through third grade students to whom you read aloud. This summer’s mascot is the Pout-Pout Fish, from Deborah Diesen’s children’s books. The club meets weekly on Fridays at 10:30 A.M. Children who complete a reading log of 10 books (mostly read aloud picture books) will receive cumulative prizes and be entered into the weekly drawing for a Twig gift card. If you’ve got young ones, I encourage you to check out the Twig and support independent booksellers by attending their summer kick-off program on Saturday, May 30, at 10:30 A.M.
Barnes and Noble Booksellers
Similar to the SAPL program, Barnes and Noble’s Imagination’s Destination Summer Reading Program is free. There’s a free downloadable summer reading and activity kit available for educators/parents. Participants read at least eight books and fill out the reading journal here. Take the completed journal to your nearest Barnes and Noble to receive a free book. Barnes and Nobles also lists top picks by grade level for reading suggestions.
Pizza Hut
The Book It! Summer Reading Challenge with Wimpy Kid begins June 22 and ends August 15. Pizza Hut has a great interactive site for parents and kids, complete with Wimpy Kids chat, activities, and more. The more books kids read, the more prizes they’ll receive.
Half Price Books
Half Price Books’ Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program goes through June and July for students through 12th grade. Students under 8th grade complete a reading log, logging in at least 15 minutes of reading per day. Students in 8th grade and beyond read a book per month and write a review. Starting June 1, older students’ reviews may also be submitted online. Bring in a student’s logs or reviews to your local Half Price Books store to receive Bookworm Bucks for Back to School. Personally, I think The Batman and I will be doing this one—he can find back issues of comic books! Half-Price Books also provides links and info for parents and students. Check out their Biggest Storytime of the Summer, June 7th at 2:00 P.M. at your local store.
Sylvan Learning Centers
This is a free reading program for grades K–8 with a pretty cool site and tons of information for students, parents, and teachers. Students can search for books, read them offline, come back to quiz on what they’ve read, and earn prizes for their reading success (parent monitored and approved, of course). It’s a new site I’ve discovered and am considering implementing into our homeschool!
Chuck E. Cheese
Understandably, this place is overstimulating for me in so many ways. Yet, more than one rainy day found our old playgroup congregating there. Chuck E. Cheese offers a simple read every day, fill out the form, and get free tokens program to inspire kids who are Chuck E. Cheese token-motivated. There’s something for everyone, my friends.
The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
This reading challenge is a free online reading program for children. Registration began May 4 and ends September 4. They’re trying to set a new reading world record for the summer of 2015. How exciting to be part of a world record! Kids can log in, record minutes, and unlock rewards. Parents can find resources, suggested book lists, and more. There a lot of information for teachers as well. Most exciting is an interactive map showing how many minutes your school has logged in.
HEB Summer Reading Program
HEB’s summer reading program for 2015 is not up and running online at this time, but I’m betting they’ll have one. Check your local HEB for details. Here’s the info from summer 2014.
Junie B. Jones Reading Program
Do you have a Junie B. Jones fan in your home? Check out this site for reading logs and activities.
The Sixth Annual New York Times Summer Reading Contest
For the older students, ages 13–19 years, this contest encourages students to read current events, assimilate the information, and comment on it. It’s definitely something I’ll be filing away for next year when The Batman is older.
Books-A-Million
BAM offers a summer reading program called Summer Quest, based on SA author Rick Riordan’s books. Participants read four books selected from a list of 75, fill out the journal, and turn it in to a local BAM for a free Percy Jackson 10th anniversary Camp Half-Blood tote bag!
DIY Summer Reading Camp
Does everyone ends up at your house to cool off, eat Popsicles, or just hang out? Check out this PBS link to start your own reading challenge. Heck, I’d give bonus points and extra ice cream to the kid who takes out my trash or cleans up the dog poop in the yard. Combine reading AND get chores done!
Whatever you choose, reading is something we want our children to always enjoy and keep moving forward throughout the summer. Maybe your child isn’t the reader you’d like him or her to be. You’re never too old to listen to books, whether it’s via CD, iPod (we love audible.com), or especially, Mom or Dad reading aloud.
Here’s an extra summer list of freebies and some summer reading fun from San Antonio Magazine online.
If you’re looking for something a little more academic in its approach, here are some tuition-based reading programs available in the SA area.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
San Antonio Academy Reading Institute
Lindamood Bell Learning Centers[hr]
When it comes to summer and reading fun, what will your children be doing? Share your adventures in the comments.
