National Chains Are Offering Freebies for Kids to Encourage Summer Reading

Some of my best childhood memories are of finishing Saturday morning cartoons then barreling through the front door and being open to any adventure the weekend might bring. I don't know if video games and the Internet have ended that outright (I hope not), but I will always champion playing outdoors and soaking up the sun.

Summer Reading Freebies

But the sun didn't and doesn't always cooperate. Fortunately, for those rainy days, I had my copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, along with The Hardy Boys and Three Investigators series to keep me company.

Multiple national chains recognize the importance of kids maintaining their reading habits when class is not in session, so they're offering some wonderful freebies to entice kids to engage in summer reading.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut's summer reading program, called BOOK IT!®, will give kids from Pre-K through sixth grade a chance to win a free pizza.

Barnes & Noble

I'm quite happy this national chain survived that onslaught of related closures that saw the shuttering of Borders, Waldenbooks, and B. Dalton, among others. If your kids loving being in a bookstore like I love being in a bookstore, they'll be primed to take full advantage of Barnes & Noble's summer reading program. All they have to do is read a set number of books (from anywhere), write about their favorite part in a special B&N journal, and then return the journal to Barnes & Noble for a free book. I love a summer book program that also improves a child's writing skills.

Read More: Malco Theatres 2025 $3 Summer Kids Movies: Full Lineup & Dates

Chuck E. Cheese

The iconic family pizza chain will give kids 10 free play tokens if they read for two weeks in a row, fill out a form, and bring it in. Reading is always fun and can now lead to even more fun at Chuck E. Cheese.

Panda Express

I'm not here to sing the praises of Kung Pao Chicken, but I could. I just think Panda Express's offer of a free kids meal coupon in exchange for reading five books is even more praiseworthy, so there.

Books-a-Million

The tri-state area in which I live is now devoid of Books-A-Million locations, but just in case, your child can score a free hat for reading any four selections from Books-A-Million's Summer Reading Adventure collection, filling out the log book, and returning the form to Books-A-Million.

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Imagination Library

I know Dolly Parton's Imagination Library isn't a "national chain," but I'll be dad gum (as her late dear friend Loretta Lynn would say), I wasn't going to leave her off this list. It's pretty simple. The Imagination Library is giving away free books to children, ages 1-5. Just head to its website and check to see if this service is available in your area, and then watch your child's eyes light up.

A big "thank you" to Instagram's The Freebie Guy for providing all these amazing tips. There's a world of adventure at your kids' fingertips this summer, and I don't mean a gamepad.