What is this year's Reading Challenge?

This challenge is all about helping kids fall in love with reading — through choice, creativity, and community. Readers will explore different genres, push themselves to try new things, and share what they’ve learned along the way.

  • A yearlong, genre-based reading adventure for kids anywhere

  • 20 chapter books — chosen by the reader, with light structure to guide

  • Organized into fun categories like Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, and more

  • Works in any setting: homeschool, classroom, library, microschool, or solo

  • Flexible pace — read 1-3 chapter books a month, or binge-read your favorites

  • Optional activities: chapter summaries, book talks, or mini reading journal

  • Designed to grow reading confidence, curiosity, and joy

Why Join the Reading Challenge?

Because kids thrive when they have choice, community, and a little structure.

The Wild Oasis Reading Challenge is designed to help young readers fall in love with reading — not through tests or rigid assignments, but through exploration, freedom, and shared purpose. Kids choose their own books across a variety of genres and track their progress at their own pace.

It’s flexible enough for any setting: homeschool, classroom, microschool, or independent learners. Whether a child reads 20 books in a few months or spreads them across the year, the goal is the same: to build reading stamina, confidence, and joy.

Each genre-based category helps students stretch into new types of books, while still giving them the freedom to follow their interests. Kids can complete chapter summaries, give book talks, or keep a mini journal — whatever best fits your learning goals.

This challenge is meant to be easy to launch, fun to follow, and memorable to complete. Join us in building a community of passionate, self-directed readers — one book at a time.

Build a Reader’s Portfolio That Lasts

Through this challenge, students build a reader’s portfolio they can be proud of — one that lasts beyond the year. Each book they read is paired with a reflection, summary, or book talk that shows growth in comprehension, genre knowledge, critical thinking, and personal response. These reflections provide concrete evidence of key literacy skills aligned with national ELA standards, including:

  • Identifying main ideas and supporting details

  • Making inferences and drawing conclusions

  • Analyzing characters, plot, and theme

  • Comparing texts across genres and cultures

  • Writing clearly about what they’ve read

Whether used for homeschool documentation, school portfolios, or personal growth, this collection of reflections becomes a powerful record of a child’s reading journey.

Already Picked Your Books for the Year?

No problem! You can absolutely use the books you've already planned for the year. 

Just match each one to one of the Reading Challenge categories — there's something for almost every kind of book. Then log your reflections as you go. 

The goal is to build a strong, thoughtful reading portfolio and stretch your thinking, no matter where you started.


How to Start a Reading Challenge Group

Jump in and start reading! Here's how to join the Wild Oasis Reading Challenge:

  • Get Your Group

    Share this page with your students or group members. Each person should click "Join" on this page to join the 2025-26 Reading Challenge. For large groups, email us and we'll help!

  • Explore the Welcome Module

    Learn how the challenge works, check out the genres, and choose how you’ll track your reading — with summaries, book talks, or a journal.

  • Pick Your First Book

    You can choose from our suggested titles or find your own with a grown-up. Once you finish your first book, log your reflection to share what you thought and celebrate your progress!

Reading Challenge Modules

    1. Welcome to the Reading Challenge!

    2. What Kinds of Books Will I Read?

    1. Fiction

    2. Book 1 - Pick Your Book

    3. Book 1 - Response

    4. Book 2 - Pick Your Book

    5. Book 2 - Response

    1. Biography / Memoir

    2. Book 3 - Pick Your Book

    3. Book 3 - Response

    4. Book 4 - Pick Your Book

    5. Book 4 - Response

    1. Classics

    2. Book 5 - Pick Your Book

    3. Book 5 - Response

    4. Book 6 - Pick Your Book

    5. Book 6 - Response

    1. Nonfiction

    2. Book 7 - Pick Your Book

    3. Book 7 - Response

    4. Book 8 - Pick Your Book

    5. Book 8 - Response

    1. Historical Fiction

    2. Book 9 - Pick Your Book

    3. Book 9 - Response

    4. Book 10 - Pick Your Book

    5. Book 10 - Response

About this challenge

  • For All Readers of Chapter Books
  • Read 2+ books each month
  • Join a Reading Community

The 2025–26 Reading Challenge Starts Here

Join solo or with a group — either way, amazing stories await!