School is out and summer is officially on its way! That means it is time to enjoy a good book!
While it is important for kids to read some during the summer to keep up their school progress, it is equally important for mom to be able to kick back and enjoy some quality reading time as well. Setting a reading goal with a fun prize is a great way to get the kids reading this summer and give mom some time to herself to read!
To help you and your family with your reading goals this summer, there are plenty of summer reading programs available online and around the Atlanta area.
Summer Reading Programs In and Around Atlanta
Georgia Public Libraries
Every summer, the Georgia Public Libraries host a themed reading challenge. This year’s theme is “Color Our World.” The libraries are offering prizes for reaching reading goals and online and in-person activities, and events.
The Story Shop Story Time – (Monroe)
Story Time at The Story Shop is every Friday and Saturday at 10:30 am. Story Time is a free event, but you will want to stick around and explore the magical Story Shop, which has its wardrobe that opens into Narnia!
The Fox Tale Book Shoppe Story Time – (Woodstock)
Join us for STORYTIME LIVE with a different Costumed Character each month. Get a ticket when you arrive to have your picture taken after Story Time.
This event is usually every 3rd Saturday of the month and is held just outside the FoxTale Book Shoppe front doors at The Gazebo in The Park at City Center.
Sometimes STORYTIME LIVE is changed. Please check our events page for the most up-to-date information.
This event is held in collaboration with Woodstock Parks and Recreation.
The Wren’s Nest – (Atlanta)
Explore history and literature with your children at The Wren’s Nest in Atlanta. The Wren’s Nest is the historic home of Joel Chandler Harris, creator of the famous Brer Rabbit Tales. Known for its amazing storytellers, The Wren’s Nest presents a weekly storytelling hour on Saturdays, allowing visitors to hear the tales in the spirit of their original form.
Mayor’s Summer Reading Program:
Storytelling and books are at the heart of our mission at The Wren’s Nest. That’s why we are partnering again this summer with The Mayor’s Summer Reading Club (MSRC), a program for children ages birth to five and their families that takes place in various locations throughout the City of Atlanta. Every year, a city-wide book choice is announced for infants and children and provided free to attendees.
Our first event is on Saturday, June 28th @10am and includes storytelling, a scavenger hunt, and of course – a book giveaway!
Future events will include a kids’ book swap and book-making project. This Summer, the book for children 0-3 is Our Family Is Growing by Layla Latimore, illustrated by Zalika Johnson. The book for children 3-5 is The Great Ant Sleepover by Madhuri Shekar, with illustrations by Nicole Kang Ahn.
Parents and caregivers accompanied by a child are invited to come on down and join for this fun, free event!
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program
Participation is a fun and easy way for kids to earn free books. They simply read a designated number of books – library books, books borrowed from friends, or books bought at Barnes & Noble – write about their favorite part in our Reading Journal, and bring a completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore. Children then choose their free books from the books listed in the Reading Journal and collect their free books from a store near them during July and August.
The Mayor’s Summer Reading Club
The Mayor’s Summer Reading Club (MSRC) is a program for children ages birth to five and their families that takes place in various locations throughout the City of Atlanta each summer. Every year, we announce a city-wide book choice for infants and children ages 2-5 to share with their families. They work with direct service programs to distribute copies of the books at no cost to children, and they encourage schools and early education programs to introduce the story and distribute the books to the children they serve. Throughout the summer, libraries, museums, farmers’ markets, child care programs, and other institutions in Atlanta hold “book club reads” to model research-based methods of reading books with children and host enrichment events based on the stories.
Summer Reading Programs Online
Scholastic Summer Reading
The Scholastic Summer Reading program allows children to track their reading and participate in fun and games online. Children visit Scholastic’s Home Base to read books and stories; attend author events, interact with their favorite characters, play book-based games and activities; join dance parties; and more! (Scholastic guarantees that Home Base is monitored for safety 24/7.)
Junie B. Jones Kids’ Club
The Junie B. Jones Kids’ Club is a year-round club. Parents can sign their children up to receive a monthly newsletter filled with activities and events, along with games and prizes.
Pizza Hut Camp Book It
The summer reading program is called Camp Book It and is open to all families with PreK-6th-grade students (ages 4-12). Parents set goals, track reading, and reward their students, all in a digital dashboard. After students have reached their reading goal, they will receive a certificate for a free personal pan pizza. The program runs from June to August.
Happy summer and happy reading!
