While I grew up doing the summer reading program at my public library, these days you can experience the same kind of reading programs at booksellers, too. This includes at the new Barnes and Noble that just opened in South Portland earlier this month. The store is located in the former Bed, Bath and Beyond store near Nordstrom Rack and Target.
Summer Reading Program at Barnes and Noble South Portland
Even though this is a summer reading program that Barnes and Nobles sponsors, it doesn’t have to be from books you’re buying at the store. However, by participating and completing a reading journal, it is a way for children to earn free books from Barnes and Noble.
They simply need to read a designated number of books. These could be library books, books borrowed from friends, books in your own home library or books bought at Barnes & Noble. After reading the book, they write about their favorite part in our Reading Journal.
Finally, the children — along with a parent or guardian — bring a completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore. In this case in Southern Maine, it would be the new store* in South Portland. Children then choose their free book from the books listed on the Reading Journal and collect their free book from a store near them during July and August.
* There is also a Barnes and Noble store location in Brunswick. And if you’re headed south to New Hampshire, you’ll find one in Newington in the same shopping center as Trader Joe’s. Here is a link to the Barnes and Noble store locator page.
Summer Reading Journal
I took a look at the Summer Reading Journal in English. There is a version in Spanish, too. It includes roughly a dozen books for children in the following grades:
- Grades 1 and 2
- Grades 3 and 4
- Grades 5 and 6
These books range from classics, such as Treasure Island and A Wrinkle in Time, to modern books with modern themes, including Minecraft: The Crash: An Official Minecraft Novel.