I have always had a love for reading and I think it had to do with my dad. He read to me every night before we said our prayers. Then as our family grew, he read to all of us. It was amazing that no matter how tired he was he always did this with us until we were old enough to read on our own. Then we went to bed and read on our own, I came to love reading so much that I always had a book in my hands, I love to read on the bus, in the bath tub and sometimes while I’m walking. My husband reads and walks too!

Now that we have kids of our own we’re trying to encourage that love of reading in them. We seem to have it easy so far, which makes me think that kids follow by example. At least our kids do, and I’m not naive I understand that it could change any day now.

Borders wants to encourage reading by giving away free books. Double Dog Dare Summer Reading Program at Borders is going on now. Read 10 books, fill out the Reading Participation Form and run in to borders and pick out a book from their list of free books.

To help you get your children reading we are providing tips every week. Last weeks tip was from Jon Scieszka, author of Robot Zot and Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka. This week you have me and HarperCollins.

Tips From Me:

Be an example to your children, read your own books in front of them.

Read out loud to your kids often, at least one book a day.

Tip From HarperCollins:

“Encourage your children to read books about people and who are different from them. In fact, Katherine Paterson, recently named National Ambassador for Children’s Literature by the Library Of Congress and author of many award-winning books for children, including Bridge to Terabithia says, “I began reading on my own very early because I knew the magic that books held, and when I came to the United States and was regarded as alien by my classmates, books provided me with friends who helped me to understand myself and to have compassion for other people. So I urge everyone to read for your life–for enjoyment and knowledge and as a member of a family and a citizen not only of your community but of the world.”

Enter to Win:

2 readers will each receive 100.00 Gift Card to spend at Borders

To Enter:

Tell me how you would encourage a child to read

Tweet or use Facebook (once a day only please)

Borders Summer Reading Challenge #Giveaway http://bit.ly/d6c0uv Enter to win 1 of 2 100.00 GC to Borders.

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site, your blog, and tell me where you advertised it or Use any of the share options below, digg, stumble (1 entry each)

The contest will run until July 1st 11:59 pm Pacific. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Borders and HarperCollins teamed to provided me a Borders gift card in exchange for my posts about the Double-Dog Dare Summer Reading Challenge. It does not affect the fact that I believe in reading to my kids.