Have your kids started their summer reading assignments yet? 
I’ve only got one who’s excited about doing his summer reading, and that’s my seven-year-old. He doesn’t have a book list to complete for the fall. Instead, his teacher reminded the children to read 15 minutes per day. And our local library gives out prizes for every four hours the children read, so he’s motivated! He can win books, free fast-food meals, pencils or toys. (He usually picks the toy, which immediately gets forgotten about in his library bag.)
My daughter, who will begin eighth grade this fall, has three books to read. One of her teachers lent classroom copies of one book to the students, so we only have to purchase two. But that one book has become a real obstacle for her. All I hear about it the tiny print, the many pages, the boring topic. I’m not sure whether requiring her to read 15 minutes a day will get her through this book, never mind the other two, by the time school starts. Instead, I may need to have her try the method one of my grad-school professors had us use: count how many pages are in the required books, and divide that by the number of days until the deadline for reading the books. The result is the number of pages you must read per day in order to finish on time. (When I was in grad school, that number was 50–for just one class.)
She’ll get a break next year, though, when she goes to high school. The high school has a “one school, one book” program going. The entire student body and faculty read the same book over the summer, and it will be incorporated into the work for every class. I’m sure that gets a little challenging for math and phys. ed. teachers, but my high-school student is just happy that he only has a single book to read this year–and there’s a movie to go along with it. Knowing him, he’ll wait until the weekend before school starts before he sits down with his book. But he’ll get it done.
As for me, I’m reading as many books as I can fit in during the summertime. It’s one of my favorite things to do.
A very happy birthday to my mom, who shares (and always encouraged) my love of reading!
COUPON TIME
Check the expiration dates–two of these are only good today!
10% off 1 item online at Barnes & Noble 
Use coupon code P3Y8C4U.
Valid through: August 3, 2009 11:59pm PT
Excludes: pre-orders, Barnes & Noble Memberships, Gift Cards, online Gift Certificates, gift-wrapping, textbooks, shipping or handling expenses or products provided via Barnes & Noble BookQuest LLC (e.g. used books, PC and video games, etc.). Cannot be combined with any other coupon or discount.
TODAY ONLY!
30% off the list price of one book at Borders.com 
Use promotion code BK30DTH.
Valid through: July 2, 2009 11:59pm ET
Valid only at Borders.com. Not valid in stores. Certain exclusions apply. Coupon cannot be combined with any other offer, including but not limited to “3 for 2,” “Buy 4, Get 5th Free,” or “Buy 1, Get 1 Half Price” offers. Excludes previous purchases, non-stock special orders, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, comics, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, self-publishing programs, Rosetta Stone software, shipping, and all electronics, including the Sony Reader and the Zune. May not be combined with other coupons, sale pricing, corporate, classroom, or other group discounts. Promotion code good for single-use only.
$5 off a purchase of $50 or more at Alibris 
Use coupon code JOYCE at checkout.
Valid through: August 2, 2009
Minimum purchase amount includes only the cost of books, movies or music, and not shipping or any applicable state taxes. Cannot be applied to previous orders. Cannot be combined with any other coupons.
TODAY ONLY!
$10 off online orders over $100 at Alibris 
Use coupon code ROBERT at checkout.
Valid through: July 2, 2009
Minimum purchase amount includes only the cost of books, movies or music, and not shipping or any applicable taxes. Cannot be applied to previous orders. Cannot be combined with any other coupons.
$5 off a purchase of $35 or more at BookCloseOuts.com 
To redeem this coupon, simply add $35 or more of books to your BookCloseouts.com shopping cart, enter the coupon number BookSale-5 and password bookcloseouts.com in the area at the bottom of your shopping cart and click on “Submit Coupon”.
Valid through: July 31, 2009
10% off your first eBook purchase at eHarlequin.com 
Use coupon code FIRSTEXTRA10.
Valid through: December 31, 2009
Online only. Valid until December 31, 2009 11:59pm EST. One-time use only. Only to be redeemed on your first purchase. Not to be used with monthly subscription purchases. Offer available to residents of U.S. and Canada only. Terms and prices subject to change without notice. Sales tax applicable in N.Y. Canadian residents will be charged applicable provincial taxes and GST.