Yesterday there was supposed to be some racing pigeons at the kids’ school. I was not entirely clear about the tie-in, but somehow it was part of a summer reading program with the school library. By the time we got there, the pigeons were pooped and packing up, even though we arrived an hour before it was supposed to end. My kids were disappointed, and I was too. I really didn’t even understand if they ran, or flew, or what.
To distract them, I decided to take in their library reading logs and hoped there was something compelling enough to make forget all about the racing pigeons. We had already cashed in our free Barnes & Noble Book and gotten the first $5.oo gift card from Schulers, but the library programs are the real bonanza. This year was no different. Here are the top 10 things my kids had in their prize packs. They got all jumbled together, so I don’t know what came from Kent District Library and what was from Grand Rapids Public Library.
- Grand Rapids Griffins Tickets – from each library system so both kids got a total of four tickets. With the Put A Lid on it Program and the Grand Cycling Classic Kids Race, we are up to 16 tickets already. We are hockey fanatics – so this is awesome!
- Whitecaps Tickets - again from each library system so each kid got two tickets to see our Minor League baseball team play.
- Free kids meals from Qdoba (already used those babies today!)
- Free kids meals from Chipotle.
- Free kids meals from Texas Roadhouse. Yee haw! Love it when they dance.
- Free kids meals from Bob Evans.
- Free Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut - from each library so both kids have two.
- A free pound of cookie dough from Papa Murphys.
- Free haircuts from Sports Clips. I’m pretty sure Maybelle will refuse to get her hair cut in a “boy” place, but A.P.’s hair grows really fast so I’ll just use both coupons on him.
- $4.00 gift certificate from a cute little bookstore, Pooh’s Corner.
I love how generous these companies are, and since we have gone on two toad trips this summer having a few freebies will help the vacation-damaged budget. The only bad part is that it’s making me realize this summer is already half over 
Submitted to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh Amanda.
Awesome. LOVE CHIPOTLE.
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I can’t wait until my kids can read
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GRPL Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 9:49 am
You can read to your child and also get some Summer Reading Swag. That counts @ GRPL to. Studies have shown reading to your children, even when they can’t read, is beneficial! Come on in to one of our locations
http://www.grpl.org/about/hours_locs.php
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Big Binder Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 10:06 pm
It’s true! My son is almost 7, and he’s been “doing” the library reading program his whole life. Nothing like a 2 year old in a “Summer Reading Program at GRPL” t-shirt
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Toad Trips? Hilarious!!
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Jen @ BigBinder Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Oops! I am totally leaving that in there wrong.
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Thanks for the suggestions! I love reading with my little girl and can’t wait ’til she’s old enough for Book-It.
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