40 Book Challenge

The 40 Book Challenge

Students are expected to read 20 minutes 6 times per week (or 120 minutes each week). Additionally, I challenge them to read 40 books this school year!

What is the goal of this challenge?

We want to help our students develop two key habits that make lifelong readers:

1. Sticking with a book and finishing it: Learning how to push through difficult chapters and persevere with larger books so they can experience the huge sense of pride that comes with turning that final page.

2. Exploring new horizons: Stepping out of their comfort zones to try exciting new types of books they might not normally pick up—like mysteries, non-fiction, poetry, or historical fiction!

How You Can Support at Home

Building reading stamina is a lot like building physical fitness—it takes practice, patience, and encouragement. Here are a few easy ways you can support your reader at home:

• Create a Routine: Aim for 20+ minutes of quiet, distraction-free reading time each day, and help them remember to fill out a book slip as soon as they finish a book. (perhaps keep the book out to remind you until the bookslip has been completed?)

• Talk About Their Book: Ask questions like, "What do you think will happen next?" or "Is this book holding your interest?”

• Read together: Read all or parts of the book together to help them access more difficult texts, or build confidence. If they get confused, encourage them to ask you to read that section or chapter with them. 

• Normalize Swapping (When Needed): We teach students to give every book a fair shot (around 20–50 pages depending on their reading level). If a book really isn't a fit, it’s okay to abandon it and try another! Finding the right book is part of the journey. Use your best judgement for when to encourage them to finish vs. moving on to another book. Each kid is different.

• Celebrate the Finished Books: Celebrate with them when they complete a book! Every finished title builds momentum and pride. We will also be celebrating book completion at school 🥳

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” — Dr. Seuss

All the Details

• I have books for every genre in the classroom library (on varying reading levels).

• You are not required to read all 40 books.

• When you finish a book, you will fill out a Book Completion Slip 👇, and bring it to school. We will mark our record sheets together. I will keep a copy of the record sheet and you will keep a copy in your pink folder.

• You will meet with me at least every other week to discuss what you are reading and what you will read next.

• Most books should be chapter books for most students. Informational, poetry, and traditional literature books do not have to be chapter books, but should be at least 30 pages long with plenty of text on the pages.

• Graphic novels and audiobooks are allowed 👍🎧, but cannot make up more than half of a category. For example, students are asked to read 2 historical fiction books, so one can be a graphic novel or audiobook (this rule may be adjusted for reluctant or lower-level readers).

• It is ok to abandon a book, but you may only count books read cover to cover.

• Books 250 pages or longer count as two books, books 400 pages or longer count as 3, and 600 pages or longer count as 4. Graphic novels will only count as 1 book regardless of length.

• I have books representing every genre in my classroom library that are always available for students to borrow, but books do not have to be from my library.

Examples of books for each genre:

• Poetry includes selections of poems and stories in verse. Examples include, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Dr. Seuss, Finding Wonders- Three Girls Who Changed Science (24-25 BOB), Zorgamazoo (24-25 BOB), Crossover (25-26 BOB)

• Traditional literature includes forms like folktales, myths, fables, and legends. It's a genre that reflects a culture's history, values, and beliefs, often used to explain natural phenomena and teach moral lessons. Examples include; My Father's Dragon, Cinderella, Roald Dahl books, Little Red Riding Hood, The Kite Fighters (24-25 BOB)

• Science Fiction explores imaginative concepts, often based on scientific or technological advancements, and their potential impact on individuals and society. Examples Include; Wild Robot, Star Wars, Hilo (graphic novels), Lion of Mars (25-25 BOB), City of Ember (25-26 BOB)

• Mystery is a type of fiction that focuses on solving an unknown event, typically a crime, through investigation and deduction. Examples include; Boxcar Children, Hardy Boys, Midnight at Barclay Hotel (24-25 BOB) Framed (25-26 BOB), Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation (25-26 BOB)

• Historical Fiction stories are set in the past and aim to accurately represent the time period through details like social norms, customs, and events. Examples include; I Survived books, White Bird (24-25 BOB), The War that Saved My Life (25-26 BOB), A Night Divided (25-26 BOB)

• Fantasy books have magical or supernatural elements, often set in imaginary worlds or featuring mythical or talking animals. Examples include; Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Keeper of the Lost Cities, The Land of Stories, Lightfall (24-25 BOB), Wilderlore (24-25 BOB), Nik Blake and the Remarkables (24-25 BOB), Sona and the Golden Beasts (35-26 BOB), Elf Dog and Owl Head (25-26 BOB), Bob (25-26 BOB)

• Autobiography, Biography and Memoir are all genres that tell about the lives of real people. Examples include, 

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart (24-25 BOB), Six Dot: A Story of Young Louis Braile ( 24-25 BOB),  Three Girls Who Changed Science (24-25 BOB), Hidden FIgures Young Readers Edition (25-26 BOB), 

BOB=Battle of the Books

Why Audiobooks Matter in 3rd Grade

• Closes the Comprehension Gap: 3rd graders can understand complex plots long before their eyes can easily decode multi-syllable words. Audiobooks let them access rich 3rd-and-4th-grade-level content without frustration.

• Builds "Advanced" Vocabulary: Listening introduces high-level words—like reluctant, devastated, or peculiar—in full context, making it easier to recognize those words when they see them later in print.

• Teaches Reading Stamina: Following a multi-chapter story builds the focus and narrative memory required for chapter books.

• Reduces Homework Stress: For tired readers after a long school day, listening allows them to enjoy a great book without the mental exhaustion of decoding print.

3rd Grade Audiobook Strategies

• Read Along (Immersion): You can try haveing your child hold the print chapter book while listening. Watching the words as the narrator speaks builds word recognition faster than almost any other strategy.

• Pause and Predict: Pause every few chapters and ask simple questions: "Why do you think the character did that?" or "What do you think happens next?"

• Chapter Book Bridging: Use audiobooks to start a new series (like Ivy and Bean, The Wild Robot, or The Boxcar Children). Once hooked by the audio, kids are often willing to incorporate print!

Free Digital Resources for 3rd Grade

• Libby App: Connect your local library card for thousands of free kids' audiobooks.

• Epic! / Sora: Digital reading apps used in many school districts—check with your teacher for student login details.

• Audiobook reviews can be really helpful. ALSC, Odyssey Awards (filtered for middle grades), 

Book Completion Slip 👇