Bookstores' Summer Reading Programs

My kids LOVE books. They love being read to and trying to read even though they are still young. A trip to the library is a treat for them. Being told they will not get to read books before bed is the worst punishment they can fathom. We look forward to our local libraries' summer reading programs every year. I've learned that a couple of bookstore chains have hopped on the summer reading program as well.

Borders has their Double Dog Dare program that for reading 10 books, kids under 12 gets to pick a free book from a list of qualifying titles.

Barnes and Noble has their Passport to Summer Reading program, that for reading 8 books, kids get to pick a free book from a list of qualifying titles categorized by age groups.

I think both are great in helping promote reading during the summer when kids' brains often slack and go metaphorically flaccid. However, what these two programs fail to realize is that there are great benefits to reading to very young children...as young as infants. We'll take Border's Double Dog Dare program, for example. Its tagline is: "If you're under 12, you're in!" Well, that's great, right? Let's take a look at the title of the reward books, shall we? (Titles are listed in their summer reading coupon/form.)

1. Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary ISBN 0380709597
2. Miss Daisy is Crazy! by Dan Gutman ISBN 0060507004
3. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown ISBN 0060097914
4. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary ISBN 0380709589
5. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan ISBN 0142417440
6. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen ISBN 0440419395
7. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare ISBN 0440495962
8. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes ISBN 0440442508
9. The River by Gary Paulsen ISBN 0440407532
10. Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin ISBN 0545174759

Now let's say you have a preschooler, say 3-4 years old. Which of these titles and authors sound like it would be appropriate for a child of that age? I'll give you a minute.

A few sound promising, but in reality, after researching each title on Amazon, there was only one that was appropriate for a preschooler: Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, for children ages 4-5. Every other one is for children 8-12. Just ONE title is appropriate for a kindergartener? What about the younger kids who really enjoy books and being read to? What about the 5-8 year olds who also enjoy books? What if you have two preschoolers? Do they each get the same book since there's only one title that's appropriate for them? They all fit in the under 12 age group. (Mind you, the fine print does not state a minimum age to participate in the program.)

Now let's take a look at Barnes and Noble's Passport to Summer Reading.

Barnes and Noble offer a much larger selection of books, in different age groups ranging from grade 1st through 6th. The difference is, they actually say it's for school-aged kids in their fine print:

*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), please. Incomplete form will be ineligible for free books.

An improvement, yes, but still, what about the younger kids? Shouldn't they read or be read to too?

I'm pretty bummed about these 2 reading programs. As I said, my kids love books. They beg to have a minimum of 3 books read to them each night. They will negotiate the amount of books like they negotiate the amount of time they're permitted to stay up and play. I wish their passion and efforts qualified as reading in the eyes of chained booksellers. Though I guess it would be a good and much more economical choice to take them to the library where the world of reading is always free. :)

Except when the book disappears into the Bermuda Triangle that is the bottom of their beds...