White House launches Summer Reading Challenge
WASHINGTON (AP) — Second Lady Usha Vance is inviting children across the country to take part in the White House’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, a program that asks students entering kindergarten through eighth grade to read 12 books over the summer as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The challenge runs from June 1 through Sept. 4, and participants may choose any 12 books, including fiction, nonfiction, classics or new releases, according to materials posted by the White House. Organizers say families must track each completed title on an official reading log.
In a letter addressed to “Future Summer Readers,” Vance described reading as an “adventure” that allows children to explore new places, meet new characters and learn something new. She encouraged children to spend the summer reading as part of the national anniversary celebration.
“Every book you open is an adventure,” she writes. “A whole summer of reading fun is waiting just for you.”
Children who complete the challenge will receive a digital certificate, a personalized letter and an America 250-themed bookmark, the White House says. Participants also will receive a special link allowing them to select a prize, and they will be entered into a drawing for a chance to visit Washington and the White House with a chaperone on Sept. 25, 2026.
To qualify, children must be entering kindergarten through eighth grade and must reside at or have a USPS-verified address, according to the eligibility rules. A parent or guardian must submit the completed reading log through the White House submission form by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 4, 2026.
Program materials also instruct participants to include each book’s title and author, the dates they started and finished reading, and a written or illustrated reflection on what they read. Parents or guardians must sign the submission form before it is uploaded.
More information is available at the White House reading challenge website, wh.gov/read.
