What’s not to love about summer reading? Opening an enticing novel under a 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 that keep them motivated to read while earning prizes along the way. Here’s our list of the best 2025 summer reading programs and challenges for kids.
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Summer Reading Lists
Our summer reading lists for 2025 have options for every kid, reading level, and interest!
1. Summer Reading Bundle
Everything you need for your summer reading 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.
Learn more: Summer Reading Bundle
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. Host a school summer reading 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?
Learn more: Free Reading Log Printable
4. 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 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 2025 Summer Reading Journal
5. 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
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: Story Time With the Washington Nationals and Reading With the Rays
Scholastic takes summer reading online and everywhere you go. Kids download the Scholastic Home Base app to join a community of readers. They can read books on the app, start and maintain a streak, interact with characters, and more. The app is monitored for safety.
Learn more: Scholastic Summer Reading Home Base
8. Check out your public library
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.
Learn more: Collaborative Summer Library Program
9. Take a 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
10. 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!
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 Template
12. Sonlight Summer Reading Challenge Kit
Homeschool curriculum publisher Sonlight has created a printable Summer Reading Kit packed with reading activities that’ll keep your child engaged with books all summer long. Printables include punch cards, reading bingo cards, templates for bookmarks and bookplates, book brackets, and book award certificates.
Learn more: Sonlight Summer Reading Kit
13. Color as you read
Students can color the page as they complete reading challenge and activities. This is a great way for students to monitor their progress toward a reading goal, and create an artifact they can share with their teacher in the fall.
Learn more: Color-as-You-Read Challenge
14. Start your own 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!
15. Books-a-Million “Wings of Fire” Summer Reading Adventure
If you have students who are into the Wings of Fire series, this summer reading challenge is for them. Kids read all six WOF books and complete the log book. Then they bring it in to a Books-a-Million store for a free hat (while supplies last).
Learn more: Books-a-Million Summer Reading Adventure
16. Chuck E. Cheese Reading Rewards Challenge
Kids can earn play points (with food purchase) for reading every day for two weeks. 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 Reading Challenge log
Get your free printable summer reading lists for 2025!
Grab all five of our printable summer reading lists for 2025. You’ll find a selection picture books, easy readers, chapter books, middle grade books, young adult books, and graphic novels.
