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.
GSHE has several resources for free books in our directory that you can access with a free registered account.
Let’s get started!!
For July, read the first book in a series!
There’s something special about starting a wonderful series, knowing there will be more incredible books to enjoy.
This challenge can be in any genre by any author, so the possibilities are endless! Here are several favorites that might inspire you and your reader to try something new.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd Alexander
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Dawn of Magic: Forest of Embers (The Tree of Ages series) by Sara C Roethle
Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles) by Patricia C Wrede
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J Sobol
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini
The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials) by Philip Pullman
The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern) by Shannon Hale
The Great Brain by John D Fitzgerald
Half Magic (Tales of Magic) by Edward Eager
Hardy Boys Mysteries by Franklin W Dixon
Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Inkheart (Inkworld) by Cornelia Funke
Junie B Jones by Barbara Park
Knights of the Kitchen Table (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene
Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Pollyanna by Eleanor H Porter
Redwall by Brian Jacques
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle) by Ursula K Le Guin
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum
A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet) by Madeleine L’Engle
