Summer is almost here, and you know what that means … it’s time to get excited about summer reading with the Scholastic Summer Challenge! Now in its fifth year, the Summer Challenge invites kids to log the minutes they spend reading as they Read for the World Record, and the 20 schools with the most minutes logged will receive recognition in the 2012 Scholastic Book of World Records.

And there’s something for everyone!

Kids:

• Log minutes and help set a new world record for summer reading
• Participate in weekly challenges
• Earn digital rewards
• Enter sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes

Educators:

• Track students’ reading progress throughout the summer
• Email parents to let them know students are signed up for the Challenge
• Check the interactive map to see how many minutes other schools have read
• Download summer reading book lists
• Use the Classroom Participation Guide to incorporate the Summer Challenge into lesson plans

Parents:

• Discover ways to use the Summer Challenge at home with the Family Participation Guide
• Find expert tips to encourage your child to read more this summer
• Download summer reading book lists
• Print activity sheets, reading certificates, and more
• Receive email alerts on your child’s weekly reading success

This year, Scholastic has teamed up with PBS Kids and iVillage to present Summer Reading Central, a gateway to fun and engaging summer reading challenges for kids and families. The  Scholastic Summer Challenge is proud to be a part of Summer Reading Central, and we hope that this initiative will help raise awareness about the importance of summer reading!

To get started on the Scholastic Summer Challenge, visit scholastic.com/summer. Happy reading!