Barnes & Noble Launches 13th Annual Summer Reading Program

Barnes & Noble, the world's largest bookseller, announced the launch of its 2009 Summer Reading program with the bestselling series "Percy Jackson & The Olympians." In the series, culminating with the final book The Last Olympian, author Rick Riordan takes young readers on the adventures of Percy Jackson, a young half-god, half-human son of the gods of Olympus. The world of Greek myths comes alive to children as Percy Jackson and his demigod friends fight mythological monsters and the forces of the titan lord Kronos. This summer, Rick Riordan is helping Barnes & Noble lead a literary adventure, taking reading out of the classroom while giving students the chance to earn a free book.

Rick Riordan will be making Barnes & Noble in-store appearances on May 20, in San Antonio, Texas; June 19, in Mesa, Arizona and Saturday, August 29, in Brentwood, Tennessee. He will also participate in a Summer Reading blog at Barnes & Noble.com, where various authors will post about summer reading memories and children’s literacy. More information, including interactive activities for children and a video interview with Rick Riordan, is available at www.bn.com/summerreading.

"A former middle school teacher, Rick Riordan is the perfect partner to help Barnes & Noble foster a love of reading in students this summer," said Jaime Carey, chief merchandising officer for Barnes & Noble, Inc. "Riordan’s fresh and fun books enthrall young readers while at the same time providing them with a hero."

"The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is a fantastic way to encourage kids to read during the summer," says Rick Riordan. "Summer is a critical time to instill a love of books and create lifelong readers."

Barnes & Noble community relations managers will be distributing activity kits in-stores, at their local schools and at many public libraries. Teachers, parents and children can download the materials for free at www.bn.com/summerreading.

In addition to earning a free book by reading, children who participate in the Summer Reading program are eligible to win a free, signed copy of The Last Olympian. Riordan will sign hundreds of copies so that each store across the country has one book to give away.