Inspired by the success of GSHE’s past reading challenges and similar programs offered by public libraries, GSHE is continuing its monthly Reading Challenge for 2026, created especially for New Hampshire’s homeschool community.
This challenge is designed to be simple, flexible, and enjoyable. Each month offers a broad reading theme that encourages children to explore new authors, subjects, and genres in ways that fit your homeschool style.
Families may choose any book that matches the monthly theme and feels appropriate for their child’s age, interests, and reading level.
There are no required book reports, projects, logs, or submissions to GSHE. If you choose to keep a record of your child’s participation, it may be included in your homeschool portfolio, but that is entirely optional.
Participation
GSHE does not collect reading logs, track participation, or offer prizes for the Reading Challenge. Families are welcome to extend the challenge in their own creative ways, such as offering a small monthly incentive, planning special library visits, or setting aside dedicated family reading time.
For children who are not yet reading independently, audiobooks and family read-alouds count. Readers of all abilities are welcome.
If you’d like encouragement and ideas for reading together as a family, you may also enjoy:
Read Alouds: Benefits, Research, and Favorite Books – Part 1
Read Alouds: Tips and Favorite Books – Part 2
Finding Books on a Budget
Your local library is a great place to start, including access to interlibrary loan (ILL) programs.
GSHE members also have access to a wide range of free book and audiobook resources through the GSHE Resource Directory. Create a free account at gshenh.org/join to explore options such as:
Libby by OverDrive
LibriVox (public-domain audiobooks)
NH Downloadable Books Consortium
Project Gutenberg
Storyberries (especially helpful for younger readers)
Ben and Me (free Kindle books for children)
For May, read an award-winning book!
There are many literary awards across different countries, languages, genres, and audiences. Pick from any category for this month’s challenge—you’re not limited to the ones listed below.
You might explore well-known honors like the Nobel Prize in Literature or the Pulitzer Prize, or look into children’s literature through the Newbery Medal or Caldecott Medal. If your reader enjoys a specific genre, there are awards for that too—from science fiction and fantasy (Hugo Award, Nebula Award) to mystery (Edgar Award), horror (Bram Stoker Award), and even writing about the outdoors (National Outdoor Book Award) or the American West (Spur Award). Some awards recognize short stories, like the O. Henry Award, while others highlight broad literary contributions, such as the PEN America Literary Awards or the America Award. And if you want something a little different, there are even awards for unusual titles, like The Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year.
If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few well-loved award-winning books across different age groups.
Younger Readers (Ages 4–8)
- Where the Wild Things Are (Caldecott Medal)
- Make Way for Ducklings (Caldecott Medal)
- The Snowy Day (Caldecott Medal)
- Blueberries for Sal (Caldecott Honor)
- Owl Moon (Caldecott Medal)
- Caps for Sale (classic favorite)
- Madeline (Caldecott Honor)
Middle Grades (Ages 8–12)
- Charlotte’s Web (Newbery Honor)
- The One and Only Ivan (Newbery Medal)
- Because of Winn-Dixie (Newbery Honor)
- The Tale of Despereaux (Newbery Medal)
- Sarah, Plain and Tall (Newbery Medal)
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Newbery Honor)
- The Boxcar Children (classic favorite)
- Little House in the Big Woods (Newbery Honor)
Teens (Ages 12+)
- The Giver (Newbery Medal)
- A Wrinkle in Time (Newbery Medal)
- To Kill a Mockingbird (Pulitzer Prize)
- Anne of Green Gables (classic favorite)
- Little Women (classic favorite)
- The Hobbit (classic favorite)
- The Secret Garden (classic favorite)
- The Chronicles of Narnia (classic favorite)
Family Read-Alouds (All Ages)
- The Wind in the Willows (classic favorite)
- The Tale of Despereaux (Newbery Medal)
- Charlotte’s Web (Newbery Honor)
- Winnie-the-Pooh (classic favorite)
- Heidi (classic favorite)
- The Railway Children (classic favorite)
- the Witch and the Wardrobe (Carnegie Medal)
Lists of Award-Winning Books
