Showing posts with label summer reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer reading. Show all posts

What is on your must read list?

When you love to read, finding a good book sometimes is easy and other times it's a shot in the dark. Who you do turn to for a list of good must reads?  Is a national best seller the way to go?  What about friends and neighbors.

Summer was a great time for reading in our area. With all the summer reading programs, the most read lists is a great way to find some good books to add to your must read list.

Here are some of my areas top books from this past summer. 

Naperville Teens Top 10 Favorite Books, Summer of 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J. K. Rowling

Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J. K. Rowling

Throne of Fire
Rick Riordan

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney

Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince
J. K. Rowling

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
J. K. Rowling

Naperville Adult Top 10 Favorite Books, Summer of 2011

Help
Kathryn Stockett

Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J. K. Rowling

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins

Heaven is for Real
Todd Bupo

Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen

Smokin' Seventeen
Janet Evanovich

Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Steig Larsson

Bossypants
Tina Fey

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling

Make summer reading a priority and get a free book and more


It can be difficult to make reading a priority over summer vacation. Incentives can inspire kids to pick up a book and put down the television remote.


Naperville Public Library offers a wonderful summer reading program. After completing a reading path, each child will receive a prize and reward. Most recently, my kids got a free meal from Meatheads for completing their reading path and they got to choose a prize from the treasure chest.

Borders offers a summer incentive program. The program Double Dog Dare is for  kids under 12 years old. After reading 10 books, the child will earn a free book. The free book is one of 10 titles and is available in-store only. This program is available at Borders, Borders Express or Walden Books. The program ends on August 26. Click here to download the form


Barnes and Noble has a summer reading program too. This program is for children in grades first through sixth. Download the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Passport. After a child reads 8 books, he is eligible to receive his free book. Turn in the passport at any Barnes and Noble to receive one of the selected books. Here are the terms and conditions: Eligible books will be listed on the coupon. Choices must be made from available stock. No special orders. Limit of one (1) form per school-age child (grades 1-6). Incomplete form will be ineligible for free books.  Click here to download the passport form.


No more excuses. Get out and read this summer.

This was originally published on Examiner.com. I am the Naperville Frugal Family Examiner. Do you want to write for the Examiner.com. Contact me and I'll tell you how.

Scholastic Summer Challenge

Are you having difficulty getting your kids to continue to read over the summer? In our house, it can be a struggle to keep my boys interested in learning when there are summer camps, sports camps and the pool which sway their interest in scholastic endeavors.

But I found a solution in our house - summer reading programs. What kid, or adult even, doesn't like getting a prize. I know that I do. Granted, we all should read just for fun, but little kids love getting a "'goodie" and the "goodie" keeps their interest high.

Some places to look for summer reading programs are Scholastic.com. Scholastic offers great books and educational services. Right now Scholastic offers a Summer Challenge. Just log in to your account with the amount of reading every day and your child is on his/her way to earning prizes. Also check out their site with tons of other fun activities.

Even with the struggling economy, local libraries have summer reading programs for kids and adults. Our local library system offers a program based on a summer safari. With each path completed, the child earns a prize.

If you don't want to join a program, start your own program at home. Create a game board and offer a reward when your child reaches the finish line. Adapt a program that works well in your house.

Teaching a child the joy of a good book will last a lifetime.


Looking for some new books for the summer - check out Freebies4Mom's Scholastic Giveaway to help stock your home library.