Borders® and Bestselling 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' Author Jeff Kinney 'Double-Dog Dare' Kids to Read 10 Books This Summer

ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders' summer reading program — the "Double-Dog Dare Summer Reading Challenge" — is now underway in Borders stores nationwide through Aug. 31. To participate in the program, kids aged 12 and under can read any 10 books and receive a free book from Borders. The Challenge, which sets a reasonable reading goal for kids and rewards them with a free book, has been endorsed by Jeff Kinney, avid reader and author of the bestselling series Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

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Kinney recently penned a letter, posted at www.borders.com/summerreading, to help promote Borders' summer reading program, and applauds the efforts of the retailer as it rewards kids for reading.

"I'm honored to be part of Borders' 'Summer Reading Double-Dog Dare,' a program that rewards kids for reading," he wrote.  "As adults, we know that there is nothing that can transport you to another world like a book. Let's reward kids for expanding their horizons and for taking the first steps to becoming lifelong readers."  

"We're really excited to team with Jeff Kinney, one of the world's most popular children's authors, to encourage kids to make reading a priority this summer," said Larry Norton, Senior Vice President, Merchandising – Adult Trade, Bargain and Children's Books. "It's often the case that a reluctant reader just needs to get pulled into the wonderful world of reading with just one book — and then they are hooked for life. It's our hope that we get lots of kids addicted to reading!"

Read 10 books and get the next free

Youngsters can choose from a number of great titles for their free book including Ramona the Brave and Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, The River by Gary Paulsen and My Weird School: Miss Daisy is Crazy! by Dan Gutman, among many others. To get a free book, youngsters complete the "Double-Dog Dare" summer reading form with the titles they've read, have a parent or guardian sign the form and bring it into their neighborhood Borders store.  (The form is available in Borders stores and online at www.borders.com/summerreading.)

Summer reading picks – from the buyers at Borders

The buyers at Borders have assembled a list of entertaining reads for kids aged 7-12, many of which are infused with humor and adventure to catalyze even the most reluctant older readers to pick up a book and read:

Ages 7-9

• The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey – Prank-playing characters George and Harold will provide kids with hours of belly-laughs. According to the buyer of this category, this is the best book for convincing boys who are reluctant to read to pick up a book. The author's first book in four years will publish in August. 
• Dragon Keepers #3: The Dragon in the Library by Kate Klimo – Perfect for kids who love dragons and magic, this is the third book in a new chapter book series about two kids who find a dragon egg and now have to figure out how to raise a baby dragon. (Releases May 25.)
• Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt by Megan McDonald – This book features the zany pirate-themed adventures of Judy Moody and her little brother, Stink, as they tackle a scavenger hunt on Ocracoke Island, home of Blackbeard. Kids will love the pirate slang, silly jokes, Morse code and challenging puzzles.
• Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs at Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne – This is the first book in the bestselling chapter book series of all time about Jack and Annie, who travel through time in their magic tree house. 

Ages 8-12

• The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney – The insanely popular series featuring the adventures of Greg Heffley and his quest to conquer middle school is a worldwide favorite among kids and their parents. The fifth book in the series comes out in November.  
• The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan – The most hotly anticipated (and sure to be the biggest) kids book of summer, this title is the first in a new series by the author of the Percy Jackson series. Infused with amazing adventures fraught with peril and intrigue — many of the same elements that kept readers glued to Percy Jackson —The Red Pyramid is expected to deliver the same level of surprise and delight to fans worldwide.
• The Babysitters-Club: The Summer Before by Ann Martin – The Babysitters Club is back! This prequel starts the summer before Kristy and her friends form the Babysitters Club.  Many grown women who grew up reading this bestselling series are thrilled that they can now share it with their daughters.
• Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary – Kids can get ready for this summer's Ramona and Beezus movie, which hits theaters July 23, by reading all the Ramona books. These titles are a staple of every classroom and school library in the country. 

About Jeff Kinney and Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Since publication of the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid book in April 2007, over 32 million books are in print in the United States, and the books have been sold in more than 30 countries around the world. Published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS, Kinney's work has been widely credited for its ability to turn reluctant readers on to books. In 2010 the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series won a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award, and books in the series have won awards voted on by students in schools around the globe. In 2009 Jeff Kinney was named one of TIME magazine's most influential people in the world.

Books by Jeff Kinney include Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book and The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary. The series is a fixture on the USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists, and has remained consistently in the top spots on the New York Times lists since publication.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., through its subsidiaries Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a leading specialty retailer of books as well as other educational and entertainment items. The company employs approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders® and Waldenbooks® stores. Online shopping is offered through borders.com. Find author interviews and vibrant discussions of the products we and our customers are passionate about online at facebook.com/borders, twitter.com/borders and youtube.com/bordersmedia. For more information about the company, visit borders.com/media.

SOURCE Borders