One of my favorite memories of childhood is reading as many books as I could get my hands on. In the summer, I had even more time for books which was wonderful for my budding imagination. These days, there are new and amazing technologies that make reading even more fun. Recently I learned about a new technology that allows children to read interactive, 3D augmented reality books with the help of a phone or tablet, and I was blown away! What an awesome way to get kids excited about reading. I wanted to share one of these interactive books with you, as well as a free summer reading program printable to encourage your children to get into books this summer and avoid summer slide! This post is part of a sponsored campaign for Pai Technology and all opinions are my own.
Summer Reading Programs for Kids
When I was younger (much, much younger!) I loved to participate in our local library's summer reading programs for kids. They gave me fun prizes for books that I was planning to read anyway! While I love visiting the library with my children, we live in a rural area and don't make it as often as I'd like. They do have summer reading programs for kids, but I thought it would be even more fun to create our own at home. You can click on the photo below to download a FREE printable PDF if you want to do the summer reading program for your kids too!
Click HERE to get the full size PDF printable of this chart
Neither of my kids (at ages four and one) are independent readers yet, so I made something simple that they could both enjoy. Our son is too little to care about incentives for reading but our daughter is really looking forward to marking things off this chart and working towards a prize. We're doing a prize for each row of four that she completes (just something small, like a bookmark or an ice cream cone) and then when she fills all of the squares in, she will get a brand new book! I also created a chart for more independent readers, which you can download by clicking the photo below.
Click HERE to get the full size PDF printable of this chart
If you have multiple kids, you can download the two charts together. Then print them on one page using the photo below!
Click HERE to get the PDF of both charts on one page
Our daughter has already decided that when she completes her chart, she'd like another 3D book from Pai Technology. They currently have one story out, TJ & the Beanstalk, but are slated to add two more books in the fall so we will be keeping our eye out!
TJ & the Beanstalk
When I first heard about Pai Entertainment's book TJ & the Beanstalk, I was curious. How could they make a book come to life in 3D with just a smart phone or tablet? I was excited to see this technology and also if it would get our daughter to interact with the story. Downloading the free Pai Storybooks app was a breeze, and we quickly learned how to hold my phone above the pages to scan and create the 3D, interactive illustrations.
I wish I had videotaped the first page we scanned because our daughter's face was priceless. She couldn't believe the book was actually coming to life on my phone! Even I am amazed that through a simple scan the app can determine exactly where you are in the book.
On top of the incredible 3D augmented reality, there's an interactive portion as well! You want to make sure your volume is up so you can hear what to do on each page. Our daughter had just helped TJ chop down the beanstalk in the photo above!
TJ & the Beanstalk also comes with four interactive character cards that you can scan and see in 3D. It's easy to see in the photo above that TJ is not standing on the card, but there he is on my phone! You can even customize the characters with these color cards.
This book is amazing because not only can our daughter listen to a story, but she can actively participate in it. She thinks it's so awesome that her book can come to life on my phone (and to be honest, I do too!). The quality of the book is also phenomenal. It's hard cover and the pages are very thick. I can see this book lasting a very long time. I can't wait to see TJ & his Magical Garden and TJ & his Team of Heroes this fall!
Want to see how 3D augmented reality works in TJ & the Beanstalk? Check out this video!
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We have a special code so you can get 15% off TJ & the Beanstalk! Just enter "PaiBooks" at the checkout!
Pai Technology is generously giving one lucky reader their own copy of TJ & the Beanstalk!
Open to the continental US only, ages 18 and up. Ends 7/12/17 at 11:59 PM EST.
Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below. Good Luck!
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign for Pai Technology. I received compensation for my participation, but all opinions are my own. One winner will be randomly selected using the Giveaway Tools random selector and notified via email. Once notified, the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or Google. Void where prohibited.
Heather A says
What a neat book!
Amber says
Isn't it!? My kids are loving it!
Janet Adams says
Sounds like a cool book
Amber says
It is so cool!
Angela P says
I like the pain band is a great idea for kids that need a little more structure to be happy
Angela P says
Love the summer reading program I even printed it out, we love reading so in summer we up our game
Amber says
Awesome! I'm glad you are using it! Our kids are loving it so far!
Paige Flamm says
These are all awesome ideas! I've been teaching my son to read this summer before he starts preschool in the fall and it's been so fun! Can't wait to have a little book worm next year!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Amber says
Thank you Paige!! Happy reading to you and your little bookworm!
Mia says
I like how the merger of the actual book with the technology. I think that is how kids will learn in the future and your chart is fantastic. I want to share this with my grandkids.
Amber says
Thank you so much Mia! I agree that technology will probably change the way books are read in the future!
Amanda Alvarado says
I like how the book is interactive! I'd love to see more advanced books using this!
Amber Ludwig says
The Pai band that's coming soon looks amazing!! I love that kids earn "points" for getting outside and playing!!
Amber Ludwig says
I LOVE this idea!! Not only does it encourage kiddos to keep reading all summer long but also gives then new book and genre ideas!! I have a hard time myself, as an adult, stepping out and reading about things not on my "love" list, What a great way to broaden horizons!
Rija says
Love the Ocean Pets - Create Your Own Virtual Aquarium Combining Mess-Free Putty and Magical Augmented Reality ! I think my kids would love this !
Darcy Koch says
My grandson in Elementary school brings home a sheet at the end of the school year similar to this one with different reading activities to do. It is then taken back to school the next grade and they are rewarded for completing it.
Nancy Thompson says
A very nice book.
Gloria Walshver says
There are many new ways to read a book for kids but the best one is a print book.
Brittany says
I never new about the 3d portions of reading!! How neat is that! A very cool way to keep children occupied.
Kelly Voreis says
Love the idea of creating a reading bingo card
Kelly Voreis says
Great idea to get kiddos reading
Leigh Kitchens says
I loved participating in my local library's summer reading program growing up. It's where I learned to love browsing for a new book to read. Love your lists of different topics & where/who to read to.
NICOLE J BECKER says
Nothing better than seeing your kids get excited about reading books! My older granddaughter loves to read. I am hosting an online book party this week hosted by Usbourne Books. They have the best books for sure.
Dana Rodriguez says
What a great list! I always loved reading as a kid!
Payton Dockery says
As a teacher, I can't stress enough the importance of reading over the summer! Yes take your vacations but keep reading!
lanette says
this is great for kids
Mia Rose says
We have a summer reading program at our local library that starts with preschool. For the youngest kiddos, it has things like taking a walk and naming items or getting books at the library.
Linda Manns Linneman says
Reading is so important throughout the year for our children. I want my grandchildren to enjoy it as much as I do. Thank you so much for sharing this
Marilyn says
One of the beat things is for children to learn to enjoy reading. Thanks for the recommendations.
Marilyn
Jeffrey says
I agree with this completely. Reading is vital!
Rosie says
This is great concept. I always liked reading. I still remember the first time my older sister took me to the local library, the children's library, and sooo many books, and then going to the adults, where it smelled musty and was so much darker, and everything up so high! I still like going to the library and getting good books and magazines. If you can keep (or start) your kids reading through the summer, that is worth it.
Victoria Scott says
We are a reading family, for sure! We've been spending time reading outside with a snack picnic, weather and heat allowing!
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
I need to help them find a book about traditions, dragons, and monsters. I think we've read one of all of the others mentioned on the first challenge! My oldest thinks the reading to a pet is a great idea and wants me to get her another dog. lol Maybe that'll be a goal for next year. lol
Nancy says
Reading is important year round, but especially in the summer when kids have lots of free time and most are not in school receiving educational experiences.
Calli Gaddis says
There's still plenty of time left this summer to read through this reading checklist! Can't wait to start!
Kimberly martin says
Love!
Kenia guzman says
I wish I would have known about this sooner! I'm going to have to check it out to get my 5 & 7 year old excited about reading!
Tara Beckage says
Thankfully my kids love reading. Reading is so important. Thanks for the tips. A reading challenge would definitely make it a lil more exciting.
mary simonton says
our kids were reading at an early age as our grandkids do reading is rewarding
Julie Hansen says
My son and I both love to read! Great post!
Pat F says
Reading is important, and making it fun only adds to reading. I think summer reading is important. Love that reading continues with new technology.
Marilyn says
High School students receive a book list . Why not younger children?
Marilyn
Deborah D says
Love that this company is using print books and technology to get kids to read.
Chantelle Webber says
Such great ideas to.keep kids reading. We read several books daily and are at the library multiple times a week
Mia says
This is such a fun idea year round. I think I will do this for when I watch my grandson.
Jodi W says
That is an awesome book. definitely a must for summer break to keep kids interested in reading
Margaret Appel says
I love these charts for encouraging children to read about different subjects. Not so much for preventing summer slide, but for them learning new things. The Pai Entertainment Book looks really nice, hopefully they will add a lot more books to it.
Katie L. says
I feel like such a bad mother this summer because we have been reading everyday but we haven't made it to the library every week to get my sons prizes (it's like 3 blocks away). I'm not a fan of how this is done at this library. I like the idea of an in-home summer reading incentive program. I may implement that next summer. I think the 3d come to life book is very interesting but I fear my child would be greatly disappointed that all of his books didn't do that.
Terri Quick says
Reading is always a fun activity year round 🙂
debra says
Reading is the best thing you can encourage in the little ones. I stated when mine were babies and now they still enjoy reading. My daughter is getting a phd in information tech.
Lauren Jones says
I really like the idea behind this.
Chrstie Heckler says
Great tips for maintaining & increasing reading capabilities that is so important & beneficial!
Linda Manns Linneman says
We have been encouraging the grandchildren to read this summer. It is so important that they keep up with this. I love to read. Thank you so much for sharing this. God Bless
Kari Lorz says
I love the program, my little one is just too little right now, but I definitely will try this when shes older! Thanks!
denise low says
When our younger son was little. He always wanted to go to summer school. He went until they told us he couldn't go anymore because summer school was for kids that needed to go.
jennifer peters says
OMG where were you at the beginning of summer? My son didn't mind working in his workbooks over the summer. I bought him some with math, writing, etc for the grade he is going into in the fall. So he got a little reading from working on those. But to sit down & read was not what he wanted to do at all this summer. I love the idea of giving him different kinds of books to read. Maybe with rewards once he gets a line filled. Thank you
Sandy Klocinski says
Awesome book! I taught my daughter to read before she started kindergarten. I want all kids to have that advantage.
Natalie says
It is amazing how quickly kids use what they learned during the school year over the summer!
Holly Thomas says
Charts can be very motivating.
Lauryn R says
This is such a cool book! I love that it is interactive, my kids are all about that! 🙂
Jessica B says
Great idea for summer reading list.
Sarah L says
I'm lucky that our library has summer reading programs for kids AND adults. Very cute ideas for books to read.
karley moore says
I love the reading program......a love of reading is so beneficial to children!!!