The 100 Books (or 100 Days!) Reading Challenge — For Kids, Parents, Teachers, and Communities
As an author you can probably guess that I love reading, and you’d be right! Reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children—but it’s also a gift we can give ourselves. Reading lets us learn new things, destress and relax, explore new worlds and new place, as Dr. Suess once wrote…”Oh-the places you can go!…”
This year, I’m inviting moms and dads to take the 100 Books or 100 Days of Reading Challenge with their children. Not as supervisors. Not as graders. But as fellow readers. (Grandma’s and Grandpa’s, teachers, Aunts, and Uncles, you can all join too!) The more adults that kids find reading, the more they will want to read too.
And yes—audiobooks absolutely count. But you make the rules. Set a page count or a minute count. A book length or type, make it YOUR challenge. After all, we are all different with different challenges, likes and dislikes, so if your going to do this thing, then do it in YOUR style, keep it challenging, but ultimately DOABLE!
Two Ways to Join the Challenge
This challenge is designed to be flexible enough for the whole family—no matter your season of life.
Option 1: Read 100 Books
Perfect for families with younger children, but anyone can do this.
- Picture books count
- Rereads count
- Read aloud together, independently, or by listening
Just remember the longer the book, the longer it will take to finish.
Option 2: Read for 100 Days
Great for older kids, teens, and parents, but again, anyone can do this!
- Read or listen a little each day, set a time you’d like to reach
- Audiobooks, read-alouds, devotionals, novels—all count
- Car rides, chores, and quiet rest time are perfect listening moments
If your family learns best by listening—this challenge is for you. Audiobooks are also a great way to tackle harder to read books—I’m looking at your Tolkien.
Why Audiobooks Should Count
Listening to stories builds:
- Vocabulary and comprehension
- Attention and imagination
- All the reasons that you reading out loud counts, audiobooks count
- A love for stories—especially for reluctant readers
- Lets you add books into even the busiest days
Audiobooks also allow families to experience stories together, even when everyone’s hands are busy.
Why Parents and Teachers Should Join In
When children see mom or dad or any adult role model choosing to read—or listen—to books, something powerful happens:
- Reading becomes part of everyday life
- Learning feels shared, not assigned
- Family conversations deepen
- Kids see the value in reading, as something outside of the classroom
You don’t have to read the same book as your child. You just have to model a love for stories. (But reading to your child does count for both of you, AND reading the same books can give you more to talk about)
Track Your Reading (and Listening!)
To make this challenge encouraging and fun, I’ve created free printable reading trackers you can use as a family.
Color in a book for every story read—or listened to. Mark off days as you go. Celebrate progress together.
👉 Download the free reading challenge printables here:
Let This Be More Than a Challenge
This isn’t about perfection or pressure. It’s about building a family and a community that values books, stories, learning, and time together.
Whether you’re turning pages or pressing play, you’re growing readers.
Ready to take the challenge as a family?
I’d love to hear what you’re reading—or listening to—together.
Reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children—but it’s also a gift we can give ourselves. I know I’ve been guilty of doom scrolling when I could have picked a book off my TBR pile, this year I am taking the challenge to hold myself to a higher level.
To hold myself accountable, I’m inviting moms and dads, teachers, kids and anyone else to take the 100 Books or 100 Days of Reading Challenge with me and with each other. Not as supervisors. Not as graders. But as fellow readers.
