Summer reading programs were always a tradition in my home growing up! Houston-area libraries, book stores, and more are offering kids a variety of summer reading programs — with exciting incentives! Here’s a quick round up:

Houston Public Library — This annual summer reading program, Summer Strikes Back, encourages kid and teens to spend some time reading this summer. Read 10 books/10 hours and receive a free book.  But wait, there’s more!  Read 20 books/20 hours and receive another free book. Kids who read 30 books/30 hours will earn a ticket to a Houston Astros game, one free child’s ticket to the Houston Rockets with purchase of an adult ticket and be entered for a Grand Prize drawing for an iPod Touch (ages 13+), a Nintendo 3DS, or a LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet. Register online or in person through August 1 at any Houston Public Library to participate. Library locations are here.

Harris County Public Library — Harris County Public Library is offering three different programs through August 11 for its annual summer reading program — Get a Clue… At the Library (kids under 12), TSI: Realm of the Unknown (12-18), and Get a Clue (adults 18 and over). Kids get a free book, while supplies last, when they read 10 books or 500 minutes. Teens get a flash drive bracelet for reading five books or 600 minutes. Adults who read five books or 600 minutes are entered into a random drawing for a Kindle Fire, Nook tablet, or $30 bookstore gift card. Register online for any of these programs or visit your local branch to pick up a reading log. Library locations are here.

Barnes & Noble — Kids in grades 1-6 can get a free book at Barnes & Noble in its Imagination’s Destination summer program by reading any eight books of their choice. Keep a Summer Reading Journal, share to whom you’d recommend it, and return it to Barnes & Noble for a free book from their list. Print the Summer Reading Journal out here. Completed forms must be returned by September 4, 2012.

Half-Price Books –The Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program at Half-Price Books runs through July 31, 2012.  This is a great deal!  Kids 14 and under will receive $5 Back-to-School Bucks summer reading award in both June and July when they read 300 minutes or more per month. One top reader per age group each month will earn a $20 HPB gift card. (Adults can read aloud to young readers.) Print your reading log online here. Find Half-Price Books’ locations nearest you here.

Pottery Barn Kids: This kid’s home furnishings retailer is sponsoring PBK Summer Reading Challenge, its own summer reading program. Kids will earn a free book when they read books from an assigned reading list: the Early Reader list or the Award-Winning Book list. This program is open to kids under 10 through August 22. Kids who complete the list also can enter to win 1 of 5 backpacks of books. Find PBK stores at Highland Village and The Woodlands Mall.

H-E-B Summer Reading Program: Kids can join the H.E.Buddy Summer Reading program and get cool prizes in return.  Read 10 books this summer and mail your list to H-E-B by October 1, 2012.  One of the prizes looks to be a t-shirt! Print your reading log here.