If your kids love reading and you love free books (honestly, who doesn’t?), here’s an important seasonal PSA: the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading program is about to start. Just like those days when you read your little heart out to earn a free Pizza Hut pizza, Barnes and Noble offers a pretty great prize for kiddos who complete their summer reading list: a new book!
Whether you’re looking for the perfect colorful picture book for big kids or learning new ways to teach boundaries to little kids, the hunt for the right book to teach a lesson or share some empathy is always a valid pursuit — especially for bookworms. And all kids, even reluctant readers, enjoy earning a prize.
So, how does the program work? When does it run? Below, you’ll find the details you need for a lovely, literary summer.
How does the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading program work?
There are a few stipulations, so let’s start with the most important: The program is only available to first- through sixth-grade kids. Next, to earn their free book, your child must read and journal eight books on Barnes and Noble’s official Summer Reading pamphlet, which you can pick up at literally any B&N. The book they earn is from a company-approved selection, but it’s a pretty hefty selection.
“Wait, they want my kid to read and write? It’ll never happen!” Take a deep breath. You can help your child fill out their “journal,” although it’s obviously good to hold them accountable for their work as they age. Plus, the journal doesn’t require a complete play-by-play of each book. For every book your kid reads, there are precisely two small lines to fill out — Barnes and Noble only wants to know the title/author of the book and a note about your child’s favorite part. It can be as simple as “When Pete sees his grandma” or “When Anne breaks the slate over Gilbert Blythe’s head.”
When does the program start?
The program runs July 1 through Aug. 31, 2025. That gives your kiddo a book-a-week timeline to hit the required quota, plus a little wiggle room for filling out the journal and getting it turned in at your local B&N in time. Honestly, you could probably start reading now, but you must wait until July 1 to start turning in your journals.
What books can kids choose from?
The books available as your reader’s prize vary by grade level, with almost a dozen to choose from in each level.
Grades 1 & 2
- Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet by Julie Murphy
- The Cool Bean Makes a Splash by Jory John
- Fox at Night by Corey R. Tabor
- Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel by Barbara Park
- Pete the Cat’s Family Road Trip by Kimberly and James Dean
- Pizza and Taco: Draw Your Own Comic! by Stephen Shaskan
- Princess Minna: The Unicorn Mix-Up by Kirsty Applebaum
- Spider-Man: Animals Assemble! by Mike Maihack
- Stella & Marigold by Annie Barrows
- Stitch Head: The Forgotten Creation by Guy Bass
- Superpower Puppies: Moose and Violet Knock Things Down by Corey Powell
- Dragón y sus labores by Dav Pilkey
Grades 3 & 4
- The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
- Big Nate: Blow the Roof Off! by Lincoln Peirce
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
- The Dragon’s Apprentice by James Riley
- Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial by Kieran Larwood
- Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
- Katie and the Cupcake Cure: The Graphic Novel by Coco Simon
- Tales of an 8-Bit Kitten: Lost in the Nether by Cube Kid
- The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
- Try Not to LOL: Jokes for Kids by Rob Elliott
- The Twits by Roald Dahl
- Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
- Los tipos malos by Aaron Blabey
Grades 5 & 6
- Awesome Road Trip Activities for Kids by Jen Tousey
- Choose Your Own Adventure: The Magic of the Unicorn by Deborah Lerme Goodman
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds
- Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
- It Watches in the Dark by Jeff Strand
- The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon
- Smile: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier
- Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs) by Kim Bussing
- Unico: Awakening by Samuel Sattin
- Warriors: The New Prophecy: Midnight by Erin Hunter
- El Niño by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Pick up an official brochure at your local Barnes and Noble or print it out at home. Then head to your local library, if you’re avoiding spending money, to pick up your books. (PS: They’re most likely also having a summer reading program!)
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