Summer Reading Programs 2016

It is hard to believe but summer is right around the corner. It is time to think about those summer reading programs again.

My first suggestion is always check out your local library. Ours has wonderful programs for little ones all the way up to adults every summer. The programs are generally free and involve lots of motivation and other enticements to engage your child in reading.

However there are other companies also looking to engage your kids in summer reading as well and I've updated my list from previous years to see what is still out there.

American Girl is sponsoring Read-a-Palooza with a variety of events this summer. This isn't quite as reward driven as some of the other programs, but it is worth a look.

Barnes & Noble's Triathlon requires children to fill out the form that can be downloaded at the site here. The form needs to be returned to a Barnes & Noble store and the child may then select a book from those listed on the record form. The program runs from May 17-September 6, 2016.

Books a Million has a program this summer. Children can get a Camp Half Blood tote bag by finishing the required reading. They must select and read 4 books from the list on the form, fill out the form and return it to get the bag. Form available here


Book Adventure is a free program offered by Sylvan Learning. The program is similar to Accelerated Reader. The children choose titles from the list, read them independently, and then take tests on the books. Each test earns them points towards prizes.

Bookworm Wednesdays at Showcase Cinemas provides free movies in exchange for a book report. Check out the website for more details. At the time of this publication they verified they are participating, but the details had not been published. If I get the chance I will come back and update the links with more details.


Chuck E. Cheese offers a program that requires the child to read every day for two weeks and record it on a chart found on the website. The chart can be returned for 10 free tokens.

Half Price Books has not updated their offer for 2016 yet. They've had programs most years so it is worth checking out to see if they come out with one. If I found out anything I will update.

H.E. Buddy also is offering a program. Download the form here, read the ten books, fill out the form, have a parent initial, mail it and they promise a t-shirt as a prize.

New York Times has a program open to students from age 13-19. The paper is looking for thoughtful commentaries on anything it publised. Check out the rules for submission. Program not updated yet for 2016.

Pizza Hut's Book It Not updated for 2016 yet.

Pottery Barn is continuing their read aloud book club, but no mention yet of a summer reading program for 2016.

Scholastic Summer Challenge

Super Why PBS Read-A-Thon

TD Bank has a program in conjunction with their Young Savers Accounts. The program is available to students in grades K-5. They read 10 books, fill out the form found here and they get $10 deposited in an existing or a created TD Young Savers account. Not a TD customer so I don't know anything about these accounts. Just listing the available summer reading programs.

AAA Six Flags New England 2016 Discount

My amusement park blogs entries still seem to be the most popular so it seemed a good time to update Six Flags New England as the season begins.

Ticket prices and information are posted on Six Flag's website here.

You can save by buying tickets online in advance here. The prices vary based on the day of the week you are going, but there is a discount for purchasing online. I don't know if there is a online ticket fee. That you will have to research.

The prices this year at the gate are:
Adults and Children over 54": 61.99
Under 54": 51.99
Under 2: Free
Parking:$25
Preferred Parking: $30
Season's Pass Parking at New England Only: $70

Flash Pass Information is located here.

There are a variety of Season Pass offers you can explore here.

Check out the meal deals before you go to the park here.

According to their website, Six Flags New England still participates in the AAA Show Your Card and Save program. They claim they give a $5 discount per ticket up to 6 tickets. I found this in their FAQ page. They also claim there is a $10% discount on merchandise purchases of $15 or more with your AAA card. Call ahead to confirm.

AAA is offering tickets for $39 this year. You can see the offer here. Tickets must be purchased online or at a AAA Northeast Branch in advance. While you can get the Show Your Card Discount at the gate, to get the much larger discount you must purchase in advance.

I did not see a parking discount offered this year. You may want to search and see if any of AAA's other Six Flag discounts might help or if the local branch might know more.

It does take some advanced planning, but there are ways to reduce the cost of your Six Flags New England visit this summer.

AAA Canobie Lake Park Discount 2016

See updated 2018 post here

This appears to be one of my most popular post so I thought I'd update it for those who keep checking back.

It appears AAA is offering a $6 adult ticket discount for Canobie Lake Park again this year. You can find the details here. As in previous years the tickets must be purchased at the AAA branch office or from them online for the discount to work. You cannot use your AAA card at the park and get the discount. Also, it appears the discount only applies to adult tickets, not the children's tickets. This is consistent with previous year's discounts. The tickets are good for one year. This works well if you live in the area and have a rain date.

According to the park's website, current adult 2016 ticket prices for Canobie Lake are $38. For those over 60 years old or under 48" the price is $29. Those who enter after 5PM pay $26. Children under 3 can enter the park for free. Parking is still free.

With the AAA discount, adult tickets are $32. There is no additional discount and it does not look like they are offering the option of buying your children's tickets online through AAA.

The prices are lower prior to May 22 when regular season prices will apply. There are also special days with special pricing that can be found here. For those of you who don't have AAA that link also lists places you may be able to find coupons at local stores.

Rump: The True Story of Rumplestiltskin

I love finding fractured fairy tales and sharing them with others. I found that in a new series from Liesl Shurtliff and the first book is Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin.

This is a series of chapter books that creates a universe of fairy tales characters that interact with one another based on versions of each character's tale. I've finished the first two of the series and glanced at the third enough to know the characters do cross over and the story does stay intact from one to the next. However, for those of you interested in using just one with a specific unit it is possible to read them as stand alone novels. You just lose a little bit of the character and plot background as the second and third novels do bring in knowledge from the previous novels.

However, this is the first chapter book in the series and I think she does a great job at giving an alternate story for Rumpelstiltskin. In the original tale, Rumpelstiltskin is generally written as an old trickster. In this novel we start with Rump's birth and thus the problem with his names. Just like in the original tale, names have power. However, in this version Rump's mother dies before pronouncing his complete name leaving him with not only an embarrassing name, but also an issue with his identity. He lacks a certain amount of personal and eventually magic power without his complete name.

The story that is most familiar occurs when Rumple is an older character. This book is written when Rump is a child. The author introduces us to Rump and the setting that will be at the heart of the series. We also quickly meet Red of Red Riding Hood fame. She later gets her own book as the series continues to a third book. Adding and mixing characters from different fairy tale stories can be done well or just clutter the story. In this case the author has created an interesting relationship between Red and Rump. Her addition to the story isn't placed just to check off a box that we've mixed fairy tale stories, she and Rump have a real purpose and a believable history established. The author does a good job creating round characters out of both Rump and Red. Ironically where Rumple is often a villain of the story, here he becomes a rounded hero. Sadly, however, while reforming Rumple and making him a fuller, more developed character, my biggest disappointment is the villains are still flat and underwritten. That is one thing that would make this series stronger.

By changing Rump into a younger character, much of the story is more easily justified. Rump didn't understand the magic that he was working with and only with time understands the consequences and rules that govern magic. The gold he spins does not come without a price as he discovers from learning the history of his mother from whom his talent was passed to him.

I was curious as to how the author was going to handle the situation with the Queen's child and it was an interesting and creative solution to how the queen gets her child back and how Rump finally discovers not only his name, but the power of his magic and his own life.

As always I recommend teachers and parents review anything before turning it over to their children.