Inspired by reading challenges offered by many public libraries but limited to people in those specific communities and the success of our 2023 Reading Challenge, GSHE is organizing a 2025 Reading Challenge for NH’s homeschool community!
It is just for fun, to help young readers explore new authors, subjects, and genres. Our monthly challenges will be very broad so families may choose whatever book they wish and feel is appropriate for their children.
Participants are not required to complete book reports, give oral presentations, create a formal project, or send in anything to GSHE. Families are free to incorporate our reading challenge into their child’s learning as they see fit. If you choose to keep a record of participation, it can be part of your child’s homeschool portfolio!
Participation
For 2025, GSHE will not collect reading logs, track participation, or issue a year-end prize. Families are free to extend the Reading Challenge in any way they wish; perhaps provide a monthly incentive to encourage your child’s reading such as a new book if they complete all monthly challenges.
For kids that are not reading independently, audio books and books you read together are perfectly fine. Any reading ability is welcome to participate.
Let’s get started!!
For February, it’s a two-part challenge! Read a book that is a play or has been adapted to a play or movie, and then watch the show.
This is a great opportunity for extra fun! Consider hosting a group book/movie day as a meet-up at a local library or your home; it’s a great excuse to meet people and make new friends. Yes, I partially stole this idea from some moms who did this for teens in Hooksett. (Love it!)
There are several theater productions coming up, so maybe you would like to select one of those shows and read the book before the performance. See the list we collected at the end of this article.
This also sets up an interesting discussion to compare and contrast the book and movie or show because there can be great differences in how the story is portrayed.
Hope you enjoy this month’s challenge!
Suggestions for Plays and Shows
Annie
Antigone
Beauty and the Beast
Cats
Fiddler on the Roof
Into the Woods
Les Misérables
Little Shop of Horrors
Little Women
Lord of the Rings trilogy
Mary Poppins
Narnia series
Our Town
Phantom of the Opera
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Misanthrope
The Wizard of Oz
Twelve Angry Men
Waiting for Godot
West Side Story
Wicked
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
anything by Arthur Miller
anything by Shakespeare
Theatre Companies – Opportunities to watch or perform
Arts in Motion Theatre Company, Conway
Concord Youth Theatre, Concord
Majestic Theatre, Derry and Manchester
RB Productions Theatre Company, Concord
Winnipesaukee Play House, Meredith
2025 NH Theater Productions
April 24 and May 4 | Junie B Jones | Arts in Motion, Conway | http://www.artsinmotiontheater.com/young-producers-guild.html |
May 2 - 4 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Colonial Theatre, Laconia | https://coloniallaconia.com/tickets-events/category/series/powershouse-theatre-collaborative-presents-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame/the-colonial-theatre/ |
Oct 10 - 12 | The Diary of Anne Frank | Colonial Theatre, Laconia | https://coloniallaconia.com/tickets-events/category/series/powerhouse-theatre-collaborative-presents-the-diary-of-anne-frank/the-colonial-theatre/ |
Feb 28 - March 9 | Peter Pan | Concord Youth Theatre | https://concordyouththeatre.org/# |
May 9 - 18 | The Wizard of Oz | Concord Youth Threatre | https://concordyouththeatre.org/# |
May 30 - June 1 | The Aristocats Kids | Concord Youth Theatre | https://concordyouththeatre.org/# |
March 28 - 30 | Matilda Jr, the Musical | Majestic Theatre, Derry | https://majestictheatre.net/event/roald-dahls-matilda-jr-the-musical/ |
May 9 - 11 | Sweeney Todd - School Edition | Majestic Theatre, Derry | https://majestictheatre.net/event/sweeney-todd-school-edition/ |
March | Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Palace Theatres, Manchester | https://palacetheatre.org/youth-theatre-in-manchester-palace-youth-theatre/pyt-season/ |
June | Anything Goes - Youth Edition | Palace Theatres, Manchester | https://palacetheatre.org/youth-theatre-in-manchester-palace-youth-theatre/pyt-season/ |
March 14 - 23 | Shrek Jr | Peacock Players, Nashua | https://peacockplayers.org/ |
May 9 - 18 | Chicago - Teen Edition | Peacock Players, Nashua | https://peacockplayers.org/ |
July 18 - 19 | The Wizard of Oz - Youth Edition | RB Productions, Concord | https://rb-productions.com/ |
July 19 | Aladdin Kids | RB Productions, Concord | https://rb-productions.com/ |
July 25 - 26 | Alice in Wonderland | RB Productions, Concord | https://rb-productions.com/ |
August 1 - 2 | Beetlejuice Jr | RB productions, Concord | https://rb-productions.com/ |
May 2 - 4 | Shrek the Musical | Windham Actors Guild | https://www.windhamactorsguild.com/ |
July 2025 | Anastasia | Windham Actors Guild | https://www.windhamactorsguild.com/ |
March 27 - 30 | Treasure Island, a Radio Play | Winnipesaukee Play House, Meredith | https://www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org/ |
April 18 - 19 | The Boxcar Children | Winnipesaukee Play House, Meredith | https://www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org/ |
October 18 - 19 | Winnie-the-Pooh | Winnipesaukee Play House, Meredith | https://www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org/ |