Summer Reading Fun

Every summer our local libraries and the major chain bookstores have a reading program for school children. The children read a certain number of books or for a certain number of hours throughout the summer and at the end of the program they get to choose a book (out of a selection of about eight to ten titles) for successfully completing their goal.

This year our local half price bookstore decided to offer their own program. to promote reading. What we love about this program is that children are rewarded weekly for their reading, they don't "fall behind" for the goal if they miss a week, and they have a wide selection of books from which to choose.

The 'rules' for the program are to read at least 15 minutes a day, everyday; and keep track of this time. When the reading cards are turned in the child receives a $3 gift certificate. They can get one certificate a week for twelve weeks during the summer. Although the certificates cannot be combined they can be used on any book in the store. Since this store is a half price place there are a LOT of books the girls can choose that are very close to the $3 range.

This is the third week the girls have participated. Here is a sample of the books the girls chose over the past two weeks. Since we have more than one of the Half Price Books in our area we rotate which store we visit each week. This gives the girls an even larger selection from which to choose.

The girls get the biggest thrill out of receiving their very own gift certificates just for doing something they love so much. It's fun to watch their eyes as they exchange the reading card for the gift card...$3 is enormous to them!

Since Half Price Books have stores throughout the United States I encourage you to check out this reading program for your children. It is wonderful and inexpensive way to build your child's library! Here is their website for further information and locations: Half Price Books