Kansas City's Summer Reading Programs

Books open new worlds to children. This summer encourage your child to cultivate a love of reading with these incentive programs from local libraries and businesses!

Kansas City Library Summer Reading Programs:

Reading and listening to books and stories will open children’s minds to the fun of adventure with "Ready, Set Read!," the theme of the 2016 Library Summer Reading Programs across the Kansas City area.

Mid-Continent Public Libraries

• May 16 - July 31, 2016!
• Children Birth through 5th grade: Listen (Children 0-6) - Share 24 books with your Listener to earn a free book. Up to three (3) book prizes can be earned over the summer. Every Listener that completes four (4) summer reading logs will receive a certificate for a free Summer Reading Program T-shirt courtesy of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts with locations in Independence and Kansas City, MO. Read (Children 6-11) - Readers earn a prize book for every 360 minutes they read or listen to a book. Up to three (3) book prizes can be earned over the summer. Every Reader that completes four (4) summer reading logs will receive a certificate for a free Summer Reading Program T-shirt courtesy of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts. Be sure to log your minutes online. Children can continue to log their reading or listening after attaining all three levels.
• Every Listener and Reader that completes three summer reading logs will be entered into their branch's drawing for a Kindle Fire Kids Edition Pack or Kindle Fire 7.
• New this year! With sports-related themes of “Ready, Set, READ!” and “Get in the Game, READ!”, MCPL has partnered with numerous professional sports teams and organizations to offer enticing rewards for program participants. Included among these organizations are the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas Speedway, Sporting Kansas City, and Missouri Mavericks.
• www.MyMCPL.org

Olathe Public Libraries

• May 16 – August 19
• Kids (going into 5th grade & younger)  Pick up a Reading Log beginning May 16 to keep track of your summer reading.  Return log between August 1 – 19 and receive a free paperback book!  We have lots of fun activities planned this summer for kids of all ages.
• Tween & Teens (going into grades 6th – 12th) Join the online summer reading program at www.olathelibrary.org/teens beginning May 16 to log time reading to earn cool prizes.  Free programs and contests throughout the summer.
• Adults This summer exercise your mind.  Read with the Adult summer reading program.  Easy, fun and terrific prizes!  Read whatever you want. Visit library website beginning May 16 to register and then log your titles throughout the summer.  Free programs as well for adults during the summer. 
• www.olathelibrary.org

Kansas City Public Libraries

• Dates TBD
• Kids (ages 12 & under) Track the activities you complete on the Activity Log. Complete as many as 4 cards throughout the summer to earn rewards! Attend exciting Library events.
• Teens (Ages 13-18) Read any book and share a review in order to win prizes.
• www.kclibrary.org

Johnson County Libraries - Summer Reading for Everyone (Adults too!)

• Dates: May 23 - August 6
• On Your Mark, Get Set... Read! with online Summer Reading. You'll be able to create avatars, earn badges and get a chance at awesome prizes.
• www.jocolibrary.org

Bonner Springs Public Library

• Starts May 31
• Children as young as 1 and teens up to 18 may  prizes. The prizes are awarded based on the amount of reading done by each child. 
• www.BonnerLibrary.org

Kansas City Kansas Public Libraries

• June 1 – July 31
• Kids and Teens: Track your reading and library activity on a log and earn points.  Every 10 points you’ll get a prize including free books, items from the treasure box, Library Bucks, and grand prize entries.  There will be a program in June and one in July, so you have plenty of opportunities to read and win!
• Adults can participate too!  Just read and log 5 books each month to receive a prize.  For each additional 5 books, receive an entry into our grand prize drawing for a Kindle Fire HD!
• The summer will kick off with celebrations at each of our branches and the Mobile Library.
• To sign up for the KCKPL Summer Reading Program, visit www.kckpl.org.

Cass County Public Library

• 2016 Summer Reading Program is open for children and teens up to twelfth grade. Each branch will also have weekly storytimes with crafts and activities. Readers who complete the summer reading program goals by the July deadline will receive a new book of their choice! For pre-readers the goal is 25 read-to-me books while readers through fifth grade are encouraged to complete 10 books on their own. For those in grades six through twelve, the goal is to complete 5 books.
• http://www.casscolibrary.org/

North Kansas City Public Libraries

• Children birth to 8th grade can pick up a log to keep track of reading or listening minutes. After 180 minutes (3 hours) are completed the log can be turned in and you’ll receive your first prize. When one log is turned in the next will be given to you. Do this 5 times until August 16th to earn prizes. You can complete additional logs to be entered into raffle drawings! Only one log can be turned in a day.
• www.northkclibrary.org/summer

Summer Reading Programs at Kansas City area Businesses:

Summer Reading is also encouraged at businesses across the Kansas City area. Kids earn terrific prizes and incentives after completing their reading goals at these businesses:

LifeWay Summer R.E.A.D. Program

• Reveal. Explore. Amaze. Discover. The LifeWay summer reading program begins with a kickoff party from 11am - 1pm on Friday 5/27, Saturday 5/28 and Monday 5/30. God reveals Himself in Scripture, and as you explore His Word, you'll be amazed and discover more of Him. Join the 2016 summer reading journey, June 1 to Aug. 31. We want to help you and your family promote the love of reading in your home as well as encouraging the love of God's Word through reading His Scripture. This program is geared toward grades 1 through 6, but all are welcome to join in the adventure. Read six books over the course of the summer and memorize six Scripture verses. Turn in a completed summer reading journal at your local LifeWay store to earn a free book and a new free Bible.
• http://www.lifeway.com/n/Special-Emphasis/Summer-Reading?cmpid=RDR-lifewayreads

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

• Step 1. Fill out the Summer Reading Triathlon Reading Journal. Step 2. Bring the completed Reading Journal to your local B&N store. Step 3. Choose a FREE BOOK from our selection on the Reading Journal list at the store... Enjoy reading!
• www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/

Chuck E. Cheese Reading Rewards

• Children may earn 10 free tokens every time they read everyday for 2 full weeks. Download this and more rewards charts for good habits at http://www.chuckecheese.com/activities/rewards-calendars.

Half Price Books Feed Your Brain Program

• June & July
• Children ages 14 and under may earn prizes at Half Price Books
• Download a Half Price Books Reading Log at http://hpb.com/fyb/pdfs/FYBReadingLog.pdf

Scholastic Summer Challenge

• Kids create an online account and keep track of their reading minutes to earn prizes. As they complete weekly reading challenges on the site, they spin the Prize Wheel to win digital prizes including eBook & Audio Book chapters and virtual badges.
• www.scholastic.com/summer/

Sylvan Book Adventure

• Ongoing
• Free reading incentive program for K-8 students. They read books, take a comprehension quiz and earn points. They redeem points for prizes.
• www.bookadventure.com/home.aspx