Summer Reading Challenge for Kids

Why Summer Reading Matters

Kids who read over summer gain reading skills. Kids who don't read over summer lose them. The difference can be as much as three months of reading level — which means by the end of elementary school, summer readers can be years ahead of non-readers. The key is making it enjoyable, not forced.

The Challenge: 20 Books in 10 Weeks

That's just 2 books per week — very doable with a mix of chapter books, graphic novels, picture books, and nonfiction. Graphic novels absolutely count! The goal is volume and enjoyment, not difficulty. A child who reads 20 easy books gains more than one who struggles through 3 hard ones.

Tracking Ideas

Kids love visible progress. Try one of these:

• Paper chain: Add a link for every book finished. Hang it across a room.
• Bingo board: Create a 4×5 grid with challenges like "read outside," "read a nonfiction book," "read to a pet."
• Reading thermometer: Draw a thermometer and color in each book toward the goal of 20.

Build Comprehension Digitally

Reading is only half the equation — understanding what you read is the other half. After finishing a book, try these:

• Use our Story Map to retell the story (characters, setting, problem, solution)
• Find 5 new words and add them to the Vocabulary Builder
• Write a mini book review using a Writing Prompt as a starting point

Tips for Reluctant Readers

If your child resists reading, try these research-backed strategies: let them choose their own books (even if they seem "too easy"), read aloud together (it counts!), try audiobooks paired with the physical book, explore graphic novels and comics, and set a daily minimum of just 15 minutes — consistency matters more than duration.

Last reviewed: April 2026