2026 Summer Reading Challenge
June 1st - August 31, 2026
This summer, spark curiosity and spiritual growth with our printable Summer Reading Challenge Kit. We've packed this kit with fun reading activities for kids of all ages. And as an added bonus, every child who participates in the Summer Reading Challenge will receive a FREE
pair of Sonlight Sunglasses and a chance to win a coupon for $50 off any Sonlight purchase.
Click on the pink banner at the bottom of the page where is says "Take the Challenge!" to get your FREE Kit.
The Summer Reading Kit includes a wide range of free resources.
Pick and choose the activities that most interest your family!
- NEW - The “Travel Across America One Book at a Time” Reading Road Trip will turn summer reading into a meaningful journey your child will love! For each book your child reads, they will advance through the road trip along Route 66 making their way from Chicago to California.
- NEW - A Road Runner Award Certificate to mark your child's amazing summer journey along Route 66.
- NEW - Vintage post cards, wall map, and reading logs - Track your progress whatever ways your kids love best.
- Reading Bingo - Add variety to your summer reading and see who can fill out the Bingo card first.
- Book vs. Movie - Center family movie nights around the books you’re enjoying with discussion questions and a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast a movie with the book it's based on.
- Templates for bookmarks - Shower love on the books in your home library with these papercrafts.
- Book Awards - Get your kids talking about books by choosing the best of the best with these printables and directions and SO much more!
BONUS: Sonlight Bookshelf Tracker
Ideal for older students, parents, or an alternative for younger students.
It's totally up to you! Read aloud as a family or let your child read independently—just mark off each book as it's finished. Whether you track by pages, minutes, or chapters, every day of reading adds a new book to the shelf!
- Color in each book or write the title as you read.
- Print more pages as needed.
- Hang your chart on the wall to watch your bookshelf "grow"!
At the end of summer, snap a photo of your stack and share it with us using #SonlightReadingChallenge or #SonlightStack.
BONUS: Get a free pair of Sonlight Sunglasses and a chance to win $50!
Everyone who participates is a winner!
Every child who participates in the Summer Reading Challenge will receive a free pair of Sonlight Sunglasses and a chance to win a coupon for $50 off any Sonlight purchase.*
Joining the challenge is easy!
- PRINT. Choose one of the trackers in the Summer Reading Challenge Kit. There are several different designs to choose from!
- TRACK. Use one of the trackers to keep a record of all the books your child reads this summer!
- ENTER. Take a photo of your child's completed Reading Road Map or Book Tracker and email the photo to [email protected] by August 31, 2026 for your pair of Sonlight Sunglasses and a chance to win $50!
Download your Summer Reading Challenge Kit for complete instructions.
Ready. Set. READ!
Need help choosing great books?
We want children to read good books. There’s no need to settle for the fluff in today's best-selling children's books though—you can provide your children with thoughtful, age-appropriate literature that’s both edifying and fun! And we've done the work for you!
With Sonlight Summer Readers, you'll find age-appropriate books for elementary, middle, and high school students, for both boys and girls. Purchase these carefully vetted Summer Readers to enjoy yourself now or save for your children to grow into later. Shop Summer Readers. Looking for more summer reading ideas? Check out more activities here!
Do you think your kids might want to learn more about the history Route 66? Check out our blog post for a list of suggested titles.
Download your Summer Reading Challenge Kit any time of the year!
When you combine these printables and suggested activities with great books, suddenly reading isn’t a chore or an assignment. It’s a pleasure to savor and a vehicle for cherished family memories.