Summer time is the one time of year that many kids give up reading books in favor of lazy summer days playing in the yard or enjoying some fun in the sun at the pool. Summer time is actually the best time for a child to read. Not only does it reinforce that reading can be a positive life long habit but it also helps reluctant readers and it helps children to keep up with their skills (reading, spelling, grammar…). Many libraries across the country host special summer reading programs for children of all ages. Some schools, including our school district, make summer reading a requirement. My kids have to read two books and do two book reports that are due on the first day of school. While that may sound harsh I do think that it’s a great idea. It forces kids to focus on reading 15-30 minute a day instead of video games and the computer.
Traveling is another great time to get your child into reading, most especially long trips. Some kids can’t read in the car, but reading in an airplane is something most people can do. Personally I cannot read in a car but I can in a plane. When I traveled out to the West Coast earlier this year and I was on the plane for over 5 hours the magazines and book (The Help) that I took with me helped to pass the time and those five hours literally “flew by” (no pun intended…OK…maybe a little 
).
One airline company, JetBlue, has teamed up with PBS Kids to create the “Soar with Reading” reading program. The program aims to keep children reading wherever they go this summer – with a combination of in-flight and online literacy resources, community reading events and a partnership with First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides new books to children in need.
Parents can download a FREE reading activity kit, among other activities, at the SoarwithReading.com website. Parents and children can also create a summer reading list and log their children’s reading minutes. I think knowing how many minutes a child has read, or how many books have been completed, actually encourages a child to want to read more. It’s like being in a competition with themselves. If you have multiple children in the family I’m sure they could have a friendly little competition too.
Additionally, for every reader who registers on SoarwithReading.com, JetBlue will make a book donation to a child through First Book, up to 10,000 books. That is A LOT of books!
At SoarwithReading.com families can also vote for their favorite library in the Soar with Reading Sweepstakes. The winning library will receive $10,000 worth of children’s books courtesy of Jet Blue and Random House Children’s Books. And if you are the lucky person who entered the winning library, you will have a chance to win a trip to Atlantis. Awesome!
JetBlue crew members will also be volunteering across the country at kid friendly events at local libraries. These “global guides” will read books to children and share stories about their job at JetBlue and their many travel adventures. My kids love it when I tell them about the places I have been and the things I have seen. I’m sure listening to the JetBlue crew members will get children excited about traveling and perhaps eager to read books based upon the countries and places they heard about.
As a special bonus child passengers will also receive activity kits on JetBlue flights as well! Thank you JetBlue!
JetBlue has been kind enough to offer as a giveaway a special backpack filled with fun things for your child to do this summer whether they are flying across country or simply going on a backyard adventure.
The JetBlue drawstring backpack features a mesh pocket to hold a drink or snacks on the outside. On the inside you’ll find a music CD called Steve Songs: Marvelous Day! There is also a Magic Tree House book called A Good Night for Ghosts that comes with spooky stickers. There is also a special Soar with Reading activity booklet that features a drawing page, word find, crossword puzzle and more.
To enter please share a tip on how you encourage your child to read – or – what is the title of the book your child is currently reading or recently finished reading.
For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.
- Subscribe to She Scribes and/or Connect with Google Friend Connect. Both options are found on the right side bar.
- “Like” JetBlue on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/JetBlue.
- “Like” PBS Kids on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/PBSKids.
- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.
- Follow JetBlue on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/JetBlue.
- Follow PBS Kids on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/PBSKids.
- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about this giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.
- Share this review/giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.
- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.
- Post about this giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only and will end on August 6, 2011 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and valid e-mail address or a new winner will be chosen in their place.
Other GREAT giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.
Kimberly
*I received a free sample backpack in order to do this review/post. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.
I try to encourage my son to read anything and everything. I get him to read the road signs and store names while we are driving!
I have liked She Scribes on facebook.
My kids love to read any book with a funky name, right now they’re reading the dork diaries!
I’m a JetBlue facebook fan (pauline1501)
I’m a PBS kids facebook fan (pauline1501)
I’m a she scribed facebook fan (pauline1501)
I follow jet blue on twitter (pauline15)
I follow PBS kids on twitter (pauline15)
My near-4 year old LOVES reading. We visit the library every other month and stock up on new books.
GFC follower already
email subscriber aleksa91 hotmail com
I like you on FB – aleksandra n.
I take my daughter to every library event at every library within 25 miles of our home. This has really helped her develop a love of books and libraries!
I subscribe via email!
I follow daily via GFC!
We don’t have to do anything. Our daughter never stops reading, talking, or memorizing.
I “Like” She Scribes on Facebook.
I “Like” PBS Kids on Facebook.
I “Like” Jet Blue on Facebook.
I follow Jet Blue on Twitter.