Summer Reading Fun for Kids

childrensbookIt’s summer! Okay, I know that according to the calendar summer doesn’t officially begin until June 20th, but southern etiquette says you can wear white after Memorial Day, thus kicking of the southern summer season.

One of my favorite things about summer is Summer Reading Programs. Honestly, I love reading any time of year, but there is something extra fun about choosing just the right book to take on vacation, read on the back porch, or by the pool. And there are some great summer reading events and programs in our area for you to take advantage of with your kiddos!  Here are a few of my favorites, in no particular order.

Barnes & Noble Bookstores have a great summer program that allows kids in 1st-6th grades to earn a free book! They are holding a kickoff event at their stores on June 4th, but all you need to do to participate is visit their Summer Reading website, download the form, and return it, completed, to your local store to claim your free book!

Foxtale Book Shoppe is a fantastic indy bookstore in my hometown of Woodstock. They have a well-curated selection children’s books and they offer story time every Saturday at 11 a.m. They even have summer camps for older kids!

The Wren’s Nest in Atlanta is the home of Joel Chandler Harris, creator of the famous Brer Rabbit Tales. Known for their amazing storytellers, The Wren’s Nest offers storytelling every Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission to the museum is $9 for adults and $6 for children. This is truly a gem in downtown Atlanta and a fantastic place to experience the tradition of storytelling that is so much a part of our history.

The Sequoyah Regional Library System (serving Cherokee, Pickens, & Gilmer counties) is my local library system and they do a great job getting kids reading in the summer. My kids participate every summer and earn bookmarks, a free meal at Chick Fil A, and once my oldest daughter even won their end of summer raffle! They hold events at different branches, check out their website or visit a branch for more information.

The great libraries in Cobb County also offer a reading incentive program where kids can read and earn prizes. They have several cool events also happening this summer, including a story time in the park on Tuesday mornings that sounds like so much fun! Again, visit their website or your local branch to find out more.

The Alanta-Fulton County Library system is HUGE and offers online registration for its Summer Reading Program. See their website or one of their many branches for all the inside info.

The Forsyth County Library system also offers online registration, and they even have a Summer Reading Program for adults! Check out their website to register online and find out more information.

If you happen to reside in a different county, check with your local library branch to see what’s up in your neck of the woods this summer. Happy reading!

6 COMMENTS

  1. Oh I’m so glad to know about all these programs! Definitely need to check out our local library. It’s amazing what lengths my kids will go to for Chick-fil-a! =)

  2. Check out the Gwinnett Library system and sign up for their awesome summer reading program. When you enroll you score coupons for stuff like Chik fil A ice cream (yes, please!), and when you turn in the reading log in August you get a coupon for a free book from B& N – and this is per child!

    Thanks for the tips, Paula! Reading is my favorite.

  3. Love FoxTale books – had no idea about story time on Saturdays! I am definitely going to take my little one and check it out! Thanks!!

Comments are closed.