A Year of Reading Challenges for Kids
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The goal in this reading challenge is for kids to read 12 books in 12 different categories in 12 months. I’ve purposely built-in flexibility to make this easier to achieve. Alternatively, your children can set their own 12 book goal if these categories don’t appeal. Whatever gets them to read and read in a variety of texts, that is the goal.
A Year of Reading Challenges for Kids
Use this yearly challenge to inspire lots and lots of reading.
My hope is that it will also help expand the genres your children read. You can use this to find new types of books to read that can increase their awareness of the world and develop empathy for others.
First, you can download this free genre graph to keep track of what genres you’re reading. You have my permission to make copies to use in your classrooms and libraries.
My own kids prefer fantasy but when they move to realistic and historical fiction books, I see how much their worlds expand. Have you noticed that when your kids move to other genres? Stories are one of the best ways to travel the world and walk in another’s shoes.
Maybe you could even do the challenge along with your kids? I think this will be tons of fun! What do you think?
Keep track of your books either in a journal, Bookopolis, or Goodreads. Bookopolis is an online community for young readers where kids can read and review books. Even better, they can track reading goals and discover new books.
Read more about setting goals with kids here.
BOOK LOG ideas here.
Share the image on Pinterest and have fun reading!
Need book ideas for the challenge?
Books for 8-year-olds
Books for 9-year-olds
Books for 10-year-olds
Books for 11-year-olds
Books for 12-year-olds
Bonus Bingo Game
Here’s another fun reading idea — see if your reader will like this reading bingo game — new for 2021!
- Diverse Beginning Chapter Books
- Books for kids who like Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Books for kids who love Harry Potter
- Best Boxed Book Series for Kids and Teens
- Books that promote empathy and understanding about poverty
- Books that promote empathy about immigration and refugees
- Books about physical differences/disabilities
A scavenger hunt of reading! Love this idea, Melissa. We have a nice, long list of read-alikes in our Literacy Library. Thought they might complement the lists you have: https://familybookshelves.wordpress.com/booklists-and-reading-ideas-2/read-alikes-by-audience/
thanks, Terry — I love read alike lists!
Just what my avid readers need! All of our girls don’t venture out of their favorite genres. I’m printing out 3 copies right now…
hope it’s a fun challenge for your girls! (I’m the same as them sometimes . . . ) 🙂
I am an English teacher and the mom of an avid reader. I do a similar challenge with my students and my own child. It is fun to discover new books this way – ones you may not have picked up otherwise.
you sound like a GREAT teacher & mama – keep up the good work! 🙂
When I was a child, I really liked lists and categories. I still do. I would have loved to do this challenge, but for now will have to wait until my son is a bit older. Unless… it may be fun to do this challenge with a toddler! 🙂
🙂