Update: The PBKids Summer Reading Challenge went live many years ago and was hugely popular. Because the reading challenge information is no longer available at PBKid, we have updated this Kids Activities Blog article with all the reading challenge details plus printable checklists, challenge logs, reading trackers, printable certificates and more inspired by the event so you can do it at home!
Join the Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge
The lazy days of summer bring with it lots of free time for kids to explore the wonderful world of books. Pottery Barn Kids wants to help instill a love of books in your child with their Summer Reading Challenge.
Children can pick up a reading list on the Pottery Barn Kids store website:
PBKids reading list.
The list contains award-winning books that your kids will love. Some of my favorites are here! In the original Pottery Barn Kids Reading Challenge, the books were available for purchase at your local PBKids store. But they are time-tested titles that can be found anywhere online…
PBKids Recommended Books for Little Ones
- Corduroy by Don Freeman
- Curious Baby Counting by H. A. Rey
- Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld
- Heads by Matthew Van Fleet
- How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? by Mark Teague
- Llama Llama and the Bully Goat by Anna Dewdney
- Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney
- Olivia by Ian Falconer
- What Sisters Do Best/What Brothers Do Best by Laura Numeroff and Lynn Munsinger
PBKids Recommended Books for Older Kids
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
- Big Brothers Don’t Take Naps by Louise Borden and Emma Dodd
- Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise
- How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
- Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis
- Paddington Bear by Michael Bond and R. W. Alley
- Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by James Dean and Eric Litwin
- Madeline and the Old House in Paris by John Bemelmans Marciano
- Sniff by Matthew Van Fleet
- Tallulah’s Toe Shoes by Marilyn Singer and Alexandra Boiger
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
The original reading challenge gave a summer time frame to complete the reading and then they would qualify for fun prizes for completing the Summer Reading Challenge.
My local Pottery Barnes Kids participating stores here in Dallas were:
The Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge is for children under age 10. Participation is FREE! There are two Pottery Barn Kids in the DFW area – Stonebriar Centre located at 2601 Preston Road in Frisco, (972) 731-8912 and 3228 Knox Street in Dallas,(214) 522-4845.
DIY Reading Challenge Instructions for All Year Long
One of the drawbacks of the PBKids Summer Reading Challenge was that it was tied to specific dates and ONLY available a few summers years ago. One of the things I like about this update is that now you can host your own DIY Reading Challenge in any month. Use these reading challenge resources for parents and teachers at home or in the classroom.
Reading isn’t just for summer!
PBKids Inspired Printable Reading Trackers
The Pottery Barn Kids reading tracker is no longer available to help children keep track of their reading progress and their and printable certificate of completion is no longer available for post-summer reading celebration.
We have created (and curated) some alternatives so your kids can be inspired to read.
If your child loves to build, then this tracker might be the best choice:
LEGO Inspired Reading Tracker
Here is a reading challenge tracker we created inspired by the PBKids event. Download & print:
Book Reading Tracker
Download & Print These Reading Logs
Here are some fun reading challenge logs that you can print at home:
Printable Summer Reading Journal
This printable reading journal page can be printed over and over to record all your child’s reading adventures:
Summer Reader Journal
Free Printable Reading Certificate
And then download & print the coordinating
free printable reading certificate:
Summer Reader Certificate
Reading Rewards for Kids
Once your child has completed your Reading Challenge, you can download any of the reading certificates. Within the PBKids Reading Challenge timeline which is now over, your child could bring the certificate to a local Pottery Barn Kids store to receive a free book. You could easily re-create that by setting aside a special book as an end-of-challenge prize.
If you want more ideas for
reading prizes and incentives, check out our ideas which include using a tracker to document, award points for each book read, create reading rewards for each week or book along with a big main reading incentive.
Let’s Read!
Kids Activities Blog loves to read and inspire our kids to read. Here are a few fun ideas you can try to get use out of all those books on your bookshelves…
Other Activities Your Kids Will Love
Thank you! I loved the printable reading certificate. Was looking for something just like this for my daughter who is 8.