Summer Reading Programs

Summer doesn't need to be a brain drain. Programs abound to get the kids motivated to read. Here's a list of the county programs, plus one from Barnes & Noble.

San Francisco Summer Library
Sign up and log your reading here. Kids up to age 12 get a prize for every 10 hours they read, and can enter a raffle. Teens ages 13-18 get prizes for every 30 hours they read, plus raffle tickets for great prizes. Even adults can register. Adults who read 40 hours get a canvas tote bag, and for every 40 hours you read you get a virtual raffle entry to win a $30 Books Inc. credit.

The SF Library has reading lists here, organized by ethnicity (Chinese, Spanish, Russian etc.), nature, arts/music/recreation, neighborhood, etc.

The summer reading kick-off is outside the California Academy of Sciences on June 3, where they'll have their bookmobile, sidewalk chart art, face painting, entertainment, and a free day at the Academy (it's quarterly). Their new Earthquake exhibit is open then.

Marin County Summer Library Reading Program
Read 20 minutes or more per day, and get prizes:
5 days of reading - get a rainbow gel pen
10 days of reading - choose a magnetic book mark
15 days of reading - earn a Round Table pizza coupon
20 days of reading - take home a Dream Big, Read! t-shirt
Program runs June 9-August 11. See a children's librarian in the Marin County library system to sign up.

Santa Clara County Summer Reading Program
Sign up starting June 1

San Mateo County Summer Reading Program
Running June through August, you can sign up at your local branch library. You'll be eligible to win library prize drawings when you submit the title and brief comments about each book you read.

Alameda County Summer Reading Program
From June 11 to August 11, the Alameda County Summer program includes all ages, even adults, with the theme Reading is So Delicious. Use a game board they provide to track your reading time, and you can win books and other prizes, plus raffle tickets.

Contra Costa County Summer Reading Festival
Pick up a reading record starting June 9 at your local Contra Costa county library branch. Libraries like the Hercules branch have special festivities and give prizes for the first people to come in to sign up. Babies to adults welcome to join the festival. The program runs through August 18.


Barnes & Noble
Read 8 books (you don't need to purchase them from B&N), and write about it in your reading journal. Bring that to Barnes & Noble and you'll earn a free book. Sign up here.  At that link they also share staff picks based on the grade level.