Printable Summer Reading Challenge For Kids

Last Updated on May 22, 2025

This printable summer reading challenge is the perfect way to make reading more fun for kids over their summer holiday.

Reading is so important and this challenge will not feel like work at all! Kids will enjoy reading all of the different variety of books and might find some new favorites.

You could also print this reading kit for kids so they can have a cute bookmark (especially if they like dogs) to keep their place in the book, record the books they read and write about the books.

Jump to:

• Why Read Over the Summer?
• How can I get my Kids Excited to Read?
• Creative Ways to Use the Summer Reading Challenge
• Ideas Including on This Summer Reading Challenge
• Mom Life - Made Easier
• Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools for Printables
• How Does the Summer Reading Challenge Work?
• Printable FAQs
• Additional Summer Fun Ideas

Why Read Over the Summer?

Kids work so hard during the school year, so it makes sense that they think that taking a break from reading over the summer is what they should be able to do.

However, reading is a skill that is important for children to master. So, it is very important for kids to continue reading over the summer months.

There can be a significant loss of reading skills if children don’t keep reading all summer long. This can cause cumulative long-lasting effects on their education.

As a way to try and prevent this learning loss, many schools send home summer reading lists to encourage reading at home. If your child’s school doesn’t send home summer reading assignments there are plenty of things you can do as a parent to make reading a normal part of summer activities.

How can I get my Kids Excited to Read?

• Lead by example. When kids see their parents reading books it will increase the likelihood that they will also become readers.
• Make it more of a game than a chore. This printable summer reading challenge is a simple way to make reading seem like a game.
• Have the kids help make their own bookmark. A DIY wire flower bookmark is a quick and easy project to make and kids will love helping—they’ll be excited to read because they get to use the bookmark they made.
• Take your child to the local library. Public libraries have really great summer reading programs. Crafts, games, prizes and more are offered and there is typically no cost to participate.

Creative Ways to Use the Summer Reading Challenge

Here are some creative ways to use this printable reading challenge to keep it fun, engaging, and visible throughout the season:

• Make a sticker or stamp incentive chart so kids can keep track of how many books they’ve read. This visual progress is super motivating for young readers.
• Let kids make an art project about what they read. They can draw a picture, make a paper plate craft, paint a picture using watercolor paint, etc.
• Have them act out a scene or make simple stick puppets to retell the story.
• Choose one challenge a week to read and discuss together as a family—maybe after you read the book you can discuss it while you go out for ice cream.
• Celebrate finishing the challenge with a picnic, book-themed celebration, or let the kids pick something fun they want to go and do.

Ideas Including on This Summer Reading Challenge

This challenge includes different ways to read the books and different types of books to read.

“Choose A What to Read Card”

Here’s the cards included on this sheet:

• A book about summer
• Poetry
• A book with red on the cover
• An old book
• A best seller
• A book with lots of pictures
• A comic book
• A book with blue on the cover
• A parent’s favorite childhood book
• A sci-fi book
• The first book you ever read
• A biography
• A brand new book
• A book with yellow on the cover
• A fiction book
• A book with no pictures
• A book on display in the bookstore
• A magazine
• A book about animals
• A book about science
• Non-fiction book
• A book on display in the library
• A book about family
• Historical fiction

“Choose A How to Read Card”

Here’s the cards included on this sheet:

• Listen to an audio book
• Upside down
• Let someone read to you
• On the couch
• At the library
• Read to someone else
• In the tub
• With a new accent
• In a tent with a flashlight
• In your bed
• Dressed up as a character
• Whispering
• To a pet
• To a stuffed animal
• At a park
• In a character’s voice
• In a sing-song voice
• While eating
• Under the covers
• In a fort
• In a tree
• At a bookstore
• Outside
• On a tablet

Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools for Printables

Printer: This one is a great budget printer. If you’re willing to spend just a little more though, this is a better option. And if you’re looking for an all-in-one home office machine, this one does it all, has high reviews and includes 2 years of ink.

Ink cartridges: Speaking of ink, this is where the cost of using printables can really add up! To save BIG on ink, buy it from CompAndSave.com. It’s substantially cheaper than anywhere else and they carry ink for all major printer brands and models.

Printer paper or cardstock: If you’re printing for one-time, quick use, print on regular printer paper. If you need the printout to hold up to being handled often or if you plan to laminate it to use it multiple times, choose cardstock.

Laminator: Laminating your printable is an inexpensive way to use it multiple times. Just use dry erase markers and wipe off when you’re done so you can use it again!  Alternately, you can cover the printable with clear contact paper to achieve the same thing or place the printable in clear page protectors.

Cutter: If you want nice, clean cuts, a paper cutter is a must-have. This is a great one if you plan on using it a lot. But this one is totally sufficient if you want something solid and reliable for occasional use.

On a tight budget? Go with this one. Or, use a good pair of scissors and a sturdy ruler.

Binder or Folder: If you’re using page protectors for your printables, binders are such an easy way to keep them together and organized. I love this colorful set. If you prefer to stick with standard white though, this set is highly rated and very affordable. And if you need larger binders, this set is terrific. If you go with folders, I like these.

Storage boxes: I like to keep a collection of coloring pages and activity sheets for kids in these plastic storage boxes that I pull out whenever I need to keep kids occupied.

Hole punch: If you don’t use page protectors but want to use binders to organize your printables, a hole puncher will be your best friend. This is the one you want if you’ll be punching holes in several pages at a time and want to do so easily. And this bargain option is ideal if you don’t mind limiting your hole punching to 2-3 pages at a time.

Sticker paper: Instead of cards, you could print these as stickers, in case you want to make a display to show what cards your child has completed. You just need sticker paper.

How Does the Summer Reading Challenge Work?

This summer reading challenge is very simple to use and implement.

Step 1: Print

Start by printing off the printable challenge. I like to print on cardstock so the pieces are a little sturdier.

You can download and print this summer reading challenge for your own personal use.

Just fill in the form below to download and print off the Summer Reading Challenge.

Step 2: Cut the Cards

Cut each card out and put them into a container of some sort. You’ll need two containers: One for the “Choose A What to Read Card” and one for the “Choose A How to Read Card.”

Pencil boxes work great as containers for this challenge. You can tape the title on the top of the pencil box, so it’s easy to identify what cards are in which box.

If you have several children completing the challenge it is very easy to make boxes for each one of them to use.

Step 3: Start the Challenge

Each day your child can pick one slip out of the “Choose A What to Read Card” container and that will be their reading focus for the day.

Then they’ll pick a slip out of the “Choose A How to Read Card” container and that will be the method they use to read their book.

If your kids don’t finish the book they’re reading and still want to continue reading it the next day, that’s fine (after all, it’s great that they’re interested in the book). They can still pick a “Choose A How to Read Card” that day if they want.

Printable FAQs

Additional Summer Fun Ideas

Keep the summer fun going strong for you and your family with these other free ideas, recipes and printables.

• 100 Things to Do This Summer: This printable 100 Things To Do This Summer List is a great way to stop boredom during summer months. This huge list of fun activities will keep you busy.
• Printable Summer Bucket List: Keep your kids entertained all season with this free printable summer bucket list! Packed with fun and easy activities for kids, it’s the perfect way to make the most of summer break.
• Summer Reading Bucket List: Keep kids reading all summer with this fun Summer Reading Bucket List! This free printable encourages kids to explore different books and reading spots, turning summer break into a reading adventure.
• 30 Ways to Make Summer Fun for Kids (Without Breaking the Bank): Looking for cheap and creative summer fun for kids? This list has 30 screen-free activities to keep your little ones active, engaged, and smiling all season.
• Homemade Cookie Monster Ice Cream: Homemade Cookie Monster Ice Cream is an easy no-churn recipe that is blue and full of cookies. Perfect dessert for birthday parties or a hot summer day.
• Homemade Ice Magic Recipe: This Ice Magic recipe is a classic! It’s so easy to make with just two ingredients and it hardens instantly when poured over ice cream.