Summer Reading Game for Kids
Free Printable Book Travel Passport & Bookland Stamps
I’m absolutely delighted to share with you my latest creation: the Book Traveler Passport complete with destination stamps to explore, discover, and love “Bookland”. I was inspired to create something like this by Everyday Snapshot’s free summer reading program Traveling Through the Pages, which I’ve signed us up. Even if we don’t follow it to a T, it’ll be inspiration I’m sure! You can use my free printable book exploring package, whether you join a summer program or not. I am actually not that inclined to use rewards for enticing Super Hero to get reading. I do like to think of prizes listed as rewards as fantastic ideas for things to just do and enjoy with children. I still believe that the joy of reading, itself, ought to be the reward. The truest reward there is, I’d say! I do get it though, that there’s nothing like a good game to get things going, or to spice them up a bit -or a lot sometimes!
How to Play
First. Decide on a summer reading program, or not.
- Pick any of the hundreds of lists that come up when you google “summer reading lists for kids”. I thought this list from MiddleWeb had a cool summer reading list,
- or join Traveling Through The Pages,
- or Barnes & Noble,
- or Pottery Barn,
- or your local library’s summer reading program. Here’s the NY Libraries list, and our very own Miami Dade Library.
- Checkout this fantastic list of free kindle books for children, thank you Marcy for putting such a list together!
- or just go to the library and pick whatever tickles your child’s fancy that day.
Second. Print the free Book Traveler Passport.
- Print pages 2 and 3 of the package on one page, double-sided. You may wish to print this one on cardstock, and to laminate it also.
- Fill the book with blank pages. I made the dimensions so you can cut a regular 8 1/2 by 11 copy paper in half, then fold it and staple it in the middle. It will fit exactly
- Print the rest of the pages, one per page (not double-sided), and then cut the individual stamp as needed. You may wish to print these stamp pages on full label sheets (aff link) and instantly convert them into stickers which kids adore. Each time you finish a book pick a corresponding stamp and stick it on any page, just as they do in the immigration/airports of the world.
- To jazz it up even more, there are these oh-so-cute decorative date stampers. I spotted them on TJMaxx the other day, but here they are on Amazon too (aff links). Adding the date on top of the genre stamp will make it look even more authentic. Plain funner:
American Crafts Roller Date Decorative Stamp, Amy Tangerine Photo Op
American Crafts Roller Date Decorative Stamp, Amy Tangerine Today
Inspiring Reluctant Readers to Play
A trick that often works for reluctant readers is to top your library cards (cards, not card) with books of all sorts of genres or topics. Spread them all in very conspicuous places around your home. You might need to sit and go through them with your child at first or a few times, but if there’s a wide selection, something is bound to pique her interest. If nothing happens at the beginning just wait till she’s ready without making a fuzz about it. And don’t forget audio books (see Super Hero’s top 10 favorites), they are so much fun to listen to in car rides, or whenever you just want to sit and relax.
So there you have it. If you have any ideas or suggestions to make this game better, please do share. It’d be nice for others to get inspired by your suggestions. I hope you enjoy the game with your children, if you do please let me know, I’d love to hear about your book exploring and adventures!
Happy reading! 🙂
If you like this, please share it, pin it, tweet it, comment it –anything you prefer. Thanks!
Download FREE Book Traveler Passport
What a cute idea! I will have to download this at some point when we have finalized exactly what we are going to do with reading requirements this summer. I love the stamps and booklet. Cute, cute! I am also going to have to check out the date stamp that you shared. I love that! Thank you.
Hi Lori, I’m so happy you liked the idea. I, too, thought it was such an exciting way to jazz up our reading this summer or anytime! Happy reading!
This is a great idea to make summer reading extra special! I am pinning this for future reference.
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Hi Jill. Glad to know you’re pinning it. Thank you! And thanks for hosting such a great linkup, that must keep you real busy! I appreciate it.
Hi, saw your link at Turn it Up Tuesdays…love this passport! We just began our summer reading program with our local library. Pinned this and going to use for my kids, thanks. 🙂
Hi Bernadyn, I’m so happy you saw it and that you will use it. I hope your family enjoys it! 🙂
What a great idea for getting kids to read in the summer. I’m going to pass this along to friends who will be able to use it as well. Thanks for sharing it and for the download.
Hi Alex, You’re welcome. I’m happy you will use it and pass it along, that’s just super. I hope you will enjoy the game 🙂 Happy book exploring!
Love this idea of a book passport … and so right about library books and keeping looking for those things that unlock their interest.
This looks super fun. I can’t wait till my little G is old enough to start these kinds of activities. Thanks so much for bringing it to our attention on the Kid Lit blog Hop
A fabulous idea. I would have been all over this as a kid! Shared! Thanks for joining us on the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
I really like this idea and need to adapt it a bit for what I want to do. Can you share anything about how you created the stamps designs? I would love to customize them for our reading goals.
Thank you for sharing these 🙂
Thank you so very much! this is absolutely perfect. Your generosity is a blessing – and will bring much joy in learning. 🙂
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Awesome and Creative Idea! Love this.
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Thank you so much! This is amazing, and really fun to do!
This was so amazing and so fun to do! Me and my friends had a lot of fun doing this together!