Ultimate Kids Reading Challenge (with Free Printable Tracker!)

A love of reading is one of the best gifts you can give a child!

This kids reading challenge was created to be a fun and effective way to encourage reading as a daily habit. Depending on your children’s ages and reading levels, you can use it to encourage reading with: 

• One simple book a day
• A set number of minutes of reading a day
• A themed list of books over the course of the challenge
• Specific genres of books

You’ll also find tips for setting up your reading challenge at home, ideas to motivate kids to read more, book suggestions by age group, and how we’re doing this challenge in our own homeschool! 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I could earn a commission if you make a purchase using them. This comes at no additional cost to you and all opinions expressed are my own.

How to Use This Kids Reading Challenge

This printable reading tracker is simply a creative way to encourage kids to read – I created it for my 8 year old daughter by turning reading into a game with a trackable chart! 

You can structure it around:

• Number of books (the printable PDF goes up to 100)
• Minutes read per day (we suggest 20 minutes for Kindergarten to Grade 2, 30 minutes for Grade 3 to 5, and 45 minutes to one hour for older kids)
• Specific genres (since the challenge includes four pages with room for 25 books each, you could do 25 books about nature, 25 classic stories, etc.)
• Themed book list (25 Christmas books, books in alphabetical order, etc.)

The chart is flexible to work with a wide variety of ages so, whether your child is reading their first books or blasting through their favorite novels, it can meet them where they are.

How to Set Up a Reading Challenge at Home

To get started, print off the sheet using the link below, do a little planning, and bring the enthusiasm! Here’s how we recommend starting: 

1. Choose a challenge duration.
   Will it last a month? The whole season? The school term? A year? Consider your child’s age and choose a realistic timeframe that’ll encourage reading without causing stress about meeting a certain deadline.
2. Set reading goals.
   This could be 20 minutes a day, one chapter, or a number of books to finish by the week, month, or season. I’ve set up the challenge for 100 books but you could simply print two pages instead of all four to make it a 50 book reading challenge!
3. Print your reading tracker.
   Download and print our free printable reading tracker here to make it official! Kids can color in a book each time they read a chapter or finish a book as they fill in the title, date of completion, and number of pages they read! 
4. Choose a few books ahead of time.
   Having a stack of new library books or a shelf of existing favorites will make it easier for kids to find something fun when it’s time for reading. Be sure to include topics your child is interested in now and related subjects to make it fun and exciting. 
5. Add fun rewards.
   Children will get excited about earning something special for all of their hard work! Depending on their age and reading level, you could do anything from: 

• Stickers (could be a sheet of stickers for their personal use after completing a page or younger kids may enjoy placing a small sticker beside each title after they read a book)
• Trip to the library (pick out new books to continue the challenge each time they finish reading 25 books/one sheet)
• Ice cream (great for smaller children after completing one sheet of this challenge)
• Special date with mom or dad or as a family (a favorite restaurant, activity, etc.)
• A quarter to one dollar a book (older kids that are saving for something special could be highly motivated by this and it’s a great opportunity to start teaching kids about finances too)

Another fun idea could be a DIY bookmark design kit! My girls absolutely LOVE designing and using their own homemade bookmarks and I use them in my books too, haha. 

Here’s what the first set we made looks like. 

Book Suggestions by Age Group

Looking for a few books to get started? Here are some titles we’ve really enjoyed according to age group: 

Ages 3–5

• Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman
• Fox is Late by Corey R. Tabor
• Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach by James Dean
• The Beginner’s Bible Lost Son by The Beginner’s Bible
• Princess Charity’s Golden Heart by Jeanna Young (this is a Level 1 reader while other titles on this list are My First readers)

Ages 6–8

• Amelia Bedelia (I Can Read Level 2) series by Peggy Parish (these funny easy readers will help kids build their reading confidence)
• Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series by Herman Parish (a great start for kids beginning chapter books)
• Horse Diaries series by Catherine Hapka
• 100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls by Jean Fischer (this is one of my oldest daughter’s favorite books!)
• 100 Adventurous Stories for Brave Boys: Memorable Tales of Men of Faith by Glenn Hascall (M loved the women’s stories so much she wanted to read about the men as well)
• Lightkeepers Ten Girls Series by Irene Howat (they have one for boys too!)
• Brave Animal Stories for Kids: 50 True Tales That Celebrate God’s Creation by Shirley Raye Redmond
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (this is currently our read aloud book in our homeschool morning basket!)

Ages 9–12

• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
• Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Imagination Staton series by Paul McCusker
• Tuttle Twins books by Connon Boyack (my oldest loves this series and has learned so much about a variety of topics from it. Her favorite lessons are the ones on entrepreneurship and economics – we’re really excited to dive into the economics curriculum!)
• The Black Stallion adventures by Walter Farley

Teens & Advanced Readers

• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Animal Farm by George Orwell (history lovers and families with origins in former communist countries will enjoy the lessons taught in this one. It could be a great gateway to a discussion on how your family came to the country you live in now or as part of a unit study on nations like Former Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Cuba, etc.)

More ideas for homeschooling families:

• How to Create a Homeschool Room You Love (Even in a Small Space!)
• Creating a Homeschool Schedule that Works for Your Family
• Top 10 Fun Kindergarten Ideas to Try This Year!

Creative Ways to Make It Even More Fun

Here are a few ways to make the reading challenge even more fun:

• Take your reading outdoors with a picnic in the backyard, the beach, or at the park – you could even use this challenge on a road trip with kids!
• Build a special reading nook or create a cozy space with a canopy, blankets, pillows, and twinkle lights
• Celebrate milestones with a “book party” – you could do themed snacks and/or watch the movie version after finishing the book or series
• Plan for crafts based on the book (Wild and Free Book Club has some amazing ideas for this!) or topic covered by the books your child is working on

Free Printable Reading Challenge Tracker

Ready to get started? Grab your free printable reading tracker and let the adventure begin!

This tracker includes:

• Numbered rows for books read (let your child fill it in for writing/spelling practice)
• A column for the date that the book was completed
• A column for number of pages read (help or have your child independently add this up at the end of the challenge to get them excited about reading a big number of pages!) 

How to Use the Printable Reading Tracker

I recommend having kids 6 years and up fill out their own reading charts. It makes for good practice with spelling and handwriting skills. Filling out the date also makes for good writing, spelling, and formatting practice.

Once your child has finished reading a book, be sure to note the number of pages read from that book on your reading chart. We’ve noticed that some kids’ books don’t include a page count and recommend going back to count those as well!

This will make for some fun and unique math problems that you can do at the appropriate grade level. You could do:

• page count addition (your child can learn how many pages they read overall and will be proud to share that big number with family and friends!)
• calculate the mean and median of page counts (children grades 6 and up can apply their math skills to see how these values can be calculated in a real life scenario)

Reading Challenge Themes to Try

Here are a number of fun themes you could incorporate at home. 

• Seasonal Themes:
  • Summer Reading List
  • Cozy Winter Reads
  • Back-to-School Books
• Genre-Based:
  • Adventures
  • Animal Stories
  • Mysteries
• Creative Spins:
  • Alphabet Reading (One book for each letter of the alphabet)
  • Around the World in Books (Could be 25 books, 50 books, etc.)
  • Bible Heroes Book List

How We’re Doing The Reading Challenge

At the time of creating this reading challenge tracker, my oldest daughter is really excited to start her own business! She wants to participate in some local craft fairs this year so I created the challenge as a way to help her earn some money to fund her business adventure. 

It’ll be another great teaching opportunity to learn about money, entrepreneurship, and the value of working hard towards a goal (we’re working on this Children’s Entrepreneur Market curriculum at the same time).

We’ve offered to pay her $1 per book to save money for her craft business but one sheet of reading (25 books) must be comprised solely of chapter books. 

Let Your Children Enjoy the Process

Personally, I feel it’s important to blend fun content with that which leaves room for learning and growth. 

Some kids really enjoy graphic novels like Tuttle Twins or the Action Bible and as parents, I think it’s important to encourage reading as a whole instead of pushing for a specific kind of reading (like chapter books, for instance).

I’ve seen firsthand how a child’s love of reading (or there lack of) can be shaped by the way parents respond to their book choices.

When a relative of mine was young, he loved comic books but unfortunately, his parents were critical of his choices and discouraged him, saying that he should be reading “real” books at his age. 

But, instead of switching to those kinds of books, he eventually gave up reading altogether. It’s a shame too because he might have gone on to love all kinds of books if his early interests had been supported instead of discouraged.

These types of comments from a place of disappointment and comparison and can really chip away at a child’s confidence and joy.

Our goal should be to encourage a love of reading first and allow the types of books our child enjoys to expand naturally over time as the child grows in skill, maturity, and curiosity. A child who feels supported is far more likely to explore new genres later than one who feels judged for the content they enjoy now.

Keep the Momentum Going

Encourage strong reading habits with these ideas:

• Use a loop schedule and include reading as a part of your daily routine
• Encourage re-reading their favorite books – it builds confidence and comprehension
• Include audiobooks as a part of your children’s reading time – our girls love their Yoto player at home and on the road – it’s been especially useful for long road trips, during quiet time, and even bedtime! The kids love Granny Edith on Abide Kids Bedtime Stories
• Grow writing and art skills with simple book reports and/or drawing – these types of review activities are a great way to solidify the material covered as well

Create an Inspiring Learning Environment with These Ideas:

• Kids Art Cart Storage Ideas (for a Fun & Tidy Workspace)
• Turn Any Room into a Stylish and Functional Music Space

Final Thoughts: Using the Reading Challenge to Grow Readers

You don’t need a full reading list or fancy system to raise kids that love to read. 

Just take a few minutes a day to do read alouds with your children and encourage them to enjoy books on their own whether they’re picture books, chapter books, or even graphic novels.

Click to get your free printable kids reading challenge tracker and dive in for an experience that will spark joy, build habits, and create special memories. 

Happy reading, friend!

– Nikki