NEW YORK, NY - May 23, 2011 - Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller, today announced the launch of its 2011 Summer Reading Program: Imagination's Destination.  Children in grades 1-6 can earn a free book just by reading eight books and turning in a completed journal sheet.  This year, participating families will be entered into a national contest to win a NOOK Color Reader's Tablet(TM) with access to over two million NOOK Book(TM) titles and hundreds of NOOK Kids(TM) titles, including the recently launched Read and Play(TM) titles.  With NOOK Kids exclusive AliveTouch(TM) technology, kids can easily find an exciting story and engage with the books and their favorite characters by simply tapping to turn pages, interacting with the text, and zooming in and around gorgeous graphics.

The free Summer Reading program kicks off in Barnes & Noble stores across the country May 24 and continues through September 6, 2011.  Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com) will host Summer Reading blogs, games and other activities. 

"The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is a fantastic way to encourage kids to read during the summer and this year, we are recognizing the program's 15th anniversary with a special celebration of the power of books to expand horizons," said Mary Amicucci, Vice President of Children's Books for Barnes & Noble, Inc.  "We are very excited to help children explore their imaginations and continue to discover the bright world of reading over their summer vacations."

This year, the Summer Reading program is broken down into five suggested steps:

Find Your Favorites
- Encourage children to identify their favorite authors and illustrators.  This is an important part of exploring the world of books.  Ask questions such as: What makes this author your favorite?  Can you always identify this person's art or writing style?  Is there a subject that you would like this person to explore?

Fiction & Non-Fiction
- Encourage children to explore different genres of literature.  It's important that they know the difference between fiction and non-fiction.  Ask children if adventure, biography, fantasy, mystery, sports and science books can be fiction, non-fiction or both.

Playing Roles
- Reading allows us to imagine ourselves in the roles played by other people.  These people can be historical figures or fictional characters.  Ask children to list five characters who have captured their imagination and describe ways in which they are similar and different from themselves.

Realms of Imagination
- Our imaginations shape our sense of what is possible.  Encourage children to plan their ideal summer vacation, mixing elements of real life with places they'd like to visit - maybe even a fictional destination from their favorite book.

The Reading Journal
- Choose eight books to read over the summer.  Fill out your summer reading journal with the books your child has read and discuss who they would recommend each book to and why.  Once they've read eight books, bring the completed journal to any Barnes & Noble location to receive a free book and be entered for the chance to win a NOOK Color Reader's Tablet.

Everything you need to begin your journey to your imagination's destination with the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading program can be found online at www.bn.com/summerreading.

For more information on the NOOK Color sweepstakes visit www.bn.com/summerreadingsweeps.