What’s not to love about summer reading? Opening an enticing novel under an umbrella by the pool is one of the joys of summer. For kids, reading in a hammock, under a tree, or in a tent are all great ways to enjoy books during the summer (and summer reading has academic benefits too). Get kids into summer reading with summer reading programs and activities that keep them motivated to read while earning prizes along the way. Here’s our list of the best 2026 summer reading programs and challenges for kids.
1. Summer Reading Bingo
Everything you need for your summer reading bingo challenge is included in this summer reading kit. Students set goals, track their reading, and complete a bingo card. Attach their summer reading accomplishments to a prize when they get back to school next year!
Summer Reading Bundle (Free Printables)
This bundle includes a summer reading log, bingo challenge, and goals worksheet that are great tools to keep kids reading both inside the classroom and at home.
2. Reading Is Fundamental Summer Reading Camp Program
Soar with reading while summer is out with Reading Is Fundamental, the nation’s largest children’s literacy nonprofit. From RIF reading lists and a collection of free e-books to interactive materials on Literacy Central and the Literacy Central app for on-the-go, RIF helps kids master the reading skills they need to succeed. Families and teachers can use the resources at RIF to create reading scavenger hunts, calendars with themed activities, and book giveaways to the first families that sign up.
Learn more: RIF Summer Reading
3. Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Journal
Every summer, Barnes & Noble curates an excellent list of books that make for fun (and cleverly educational) summer reads for kids of all ages. Kids can earn stickers as they finish reading and a free book after they read eight books and log them on the downloadable reading journal. The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is available for students in grades 1–6. Only one book is available for each child who completes a reading journal, and the choice must be made from the selected books available at the store.
Learn more: B&N Summer Reading
4. Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp
The Half Price Books kids’ summer reading program, aka Summer Reading Camp, offers kids the chance to earn Bookworm Bucks for reading during the months of June and July. The program website also features printable coloring sheets, online story times, and mystery book recommendations for ages ranging from preschool to teens.
Learn more: Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp
5. School Summer Reading Log Challenge
Use our reading logs to track summer reading. Recording summer reading is motivating for kids and can bring school communities together. Connect summer reading to school prizes, and have students bring in their logs to share with peers at the start of the new school year. What books can they recommend to their new friends?
Keep track of student reading achievements with the array of options in our Reading Log Printable collection for students from preschool through high school.
Check out this cool summer scavenger hunt idea for more summer fun.
6. Read with professional sports teams
Many professional sports teams sponsor summer reading programs, including the Washington, D.C., Nationals and the Tampa Bay Rays. Check with your local team to see if they offer a reading program.
Learn more: Read Between the Lines with the New England Patriots (check back in July for more info) and Story Time With the Washington Nationals
7. Read-and-Scratch Challenge
Students scratch off a square and reveal a reading challenge. Then they bring their completed scratch card back at the end of summer to share with their new teacher.
Learn more: Scratch-Off Reading Challenge
8. Public library summer reading programs
Check your local library for more free kids summer reading programs with activities and incentives for all ages. Most libraries also have story times and other reading-themed activities. This year’s Collaborative Summer Library Program theme is Unearth a Story!
Learn more: Collaborative Summer Library Program
9. Camp BOOK IT! with Pizza Hut
Join BOOK IT summer camp to encourage reading all summer long. Track kids’ reading for the summer months in their digital dashboard. If they meet their monthly reading goal, kids receive a free Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut!
Learn more: Camp BOOK IT!
10. Summer book club
Reading is more fun with friends! Why not start your very own book club? Gather four to six friends from school, summer camp, or your neighborhood who are all around the same reading level as your child, choose a book, and start reading!
11. Battle of the Books
Host a book reading challenge using a bracket. Kids fill their brackets with books they want to read (they can complete the brackets by themselves or with friends). Then they read each book and determine the winner. Which book will be the summer champion?
Learn more: Book Bracket Templates
12. Books-a-Million Summer Reading Adventure
Engage students in reading over the summer with Books-a-Million’s challenge. Students complete a logbook of the books they’ve read. Then they bring it in to a Books-a-Million store for a prize (while supplies last).
Learn more: Books-a-Million Summer Reading Adventure
13. Color as you read
Students can color the page as they complete reading challenges and activities. This is a great way for students to monitor their progress toward a reading goal, and they create a memento they can share with their teacher in the fall.
14. Chuck E. Cheese Page Turning Pro Award
Kids can earn 10 free play points (with food purchase) for achieving their set reading goal (e.g., reading an entire book, reading every day for a week, etc.). This is a great way to challenge kids to get into the habit of reading at the beginning of the summer break, with a clear prize at the end.
Learn more: Chuck E. Cheese Page Turning Pro Award
Plus, get our free summer coloring pages.
Get your free printable summer reading lists for 2026!
Grab all five of our free printable summer reading lists. You’ll find a selection of picture books, easy readers, chapter books, middle grade books, young adult books, and graphic novels. Just follow the link below and fill out the form to get yours.
