Idaho Teen Reading Challenge
8 Books. 7 Months. 1 State.
More than 3,300 Idaho teens and tweens at 60 different libraries participated in the 2025-26 Idaho Teen Reading Challenge – nice work! And a huge congratulations to the 679 teens who completed the whole Challenge. Check out the map below for locations of the libraries that reported participation.
Registration for the 2026 – 2027 Challenge is now open. Check this list to see if you have already pre-registered for the Challenge.
New Categories for the 2026-2027 School Year
The Idaho Teen Reading Challenge is a chance for school and public libraries to challenge teens to read books outside of their comfort zone. Here’s how it works:
- During the timeframe of October 1 – April 30, teens are challenged to read 8 books from the following 10 categories:
- Read a book that has a Two-Word Title.
- Read a book in a New Format – like an audio book or graphic novel.
- Read a book from a Library Display (digital displays count!).
- Read a book with a Multicolored Cover.
- Read a Science Fiction book.
- Read a book Recommended by a Teacher.
- Read a book that Features the Outdoors.
- Read a book Before You Stream (a book that was made into a movie – or one that will be!).
- Read a book of Poetry or a Novel in Verse.
- Free Choice: read whatever you want!
- Register your library to participate in the reading challenge. When you register, you will have the chance to request tracking forms and bookmarks to hand out to teens. Reading journals will be available for you to download and print as needed. We will also send a custom sticker that you can give to teens who complete the challenge and two 8.5 x 11 posters to help advertise the ITRC. Registration will be open from August 1 – October 15.
- We will mail you a set of tracking forms, bookmarks, stickers, and posters. You can decide how much interaction you have with teens who take the challenge – you can set up a spreadsheet or other method to track their progress or just check in occasionally. When they have completed the entire challenge, they need to turn in their tracking sheet to you. You do not have to keep the tracking sheets, but you do need to keep track of how many kids participated and how many challenge categories they finished (here’s a sample Excel tracking sheet with two different options for tracking). Do you need more materials? Reach out to Jennifer to request additional materials: jennifer.redford@libraries.idaho.gov.
- Share information about the ITRC and engage with teens all year long. Teens can start the ITRC at any time, and you can solicit feedback from them throughout the year, too. This year we are hosting an art contest where teens can create digital badges representing each of the categories. As teens finish a book, you can award them the badge from the book’s category and encourage them to earn ALL of the badges. More on the digital badge art contest below.
- NEW: Keep track of how many teens read at least one book as part of the challenge. We want to recognize ALL reading that is done as part of the ITRC. This year, we are asking libraries to track each book that is read as part of the challenge, even if the teen doesn’t finish reading all eight books. Teens who do complete the whole challenge are eligible to receive a sticker, but every book is counted and all reading is recognized. You can use a simple spreadsheet like this one to track reading or use your own method.
- Submit a report. In May, you will be asked to submit a short evaluation with the total number of teens who participated in the ITRC at your library, including those who finished the Challenge. You will also be able to send feedback about the program and suggestions for next year’s categories.
That’s it! Hopefully this will be a fun way to engage with teens and encourage them to discover books they love.
Digital Badge Art Contest for Teens
We are once again hosting a Digital Badge Art Contest for teens. To participate, teens pick an ITRC category (or categories) and create a digital badge representing that category. They can draw, paint, sketch, or design it digitally. Give your teen artists the guidance that their badge should look good when printed small (like on a sticker or button) – so, it probably should not be extremely detailed or “busy.” The art contest will run August 1 – November 30, 2026. There will be one winner per category. The winning badges will be shared with libraries statewide! Librarians: we will send out the link to submit entries in an email. Badges will be available in early January 2027, after the art contest ends. As teens finish a book, you can award them the badge from the book’s category and encourage them to earn ALL of the badges created by Idaho teens.
ITRC Materials
You can download and print your own ITRC materials. Below are links to both the PDF files for this year’s materials. Unfortunately, the ICfL is not able to offer links to Canva templates this year:
Bookmarks
Tracking Sheets
Reading Journal (Note – this year’s journals are formated to be a half-page size to make them easier to print and fold – check out printing instructions for the Reading Journal here)
ITRC Promotional Poster
Digital Badge Art Contest Promotional Poster
ITRC Catetgories Tetris Shapes
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Whoa! The ITRC has a new look – what’s up with that?
A: This year’s program has a Tetris theme. You can download Tetris shapes for each category, cut them out, and given them to teens. As the teens finish different categories, they can add their shapes to game board in your library. There are both small and larger shapes that you can download. You can set up a game board for the Tetris shapes anywhere you like in your library.
Q: Why are there 10 categories if you only need to read eight books?
A: Giving teens a choice is important and having extra categories builds a little bit of flexibility into the program. The hope is that teens are challenged to read something new and not turned off by having to read in a category that doesn’t work for them.
Q: I need more tracking sheets / bookmarks / stickers – can you mail me some?
A: Yes – we have leftover printed materials and will send them to any library that requests them until we run out. Just email Candace to get more tracking sheets, journals, bookmarks, or stickers: candace.reynolds@libraries.idaho.gov.
Q: Will the ICfL provide an incentive for teens who complete the program?
A: Yes! Teens who finish the challenge will receive a custom sticker. Unfortunately, we do not have funding for additional incentives this year.
Q: Can my library provide additional incentives?
A: Yes! Feel free to use the framework of the Challenge and modify this program in ways that work for your teens.
Q: What types of books qualify for the reading challenge?
A: ALL types of books qualify – audiobooks, e-books, graphic novels, instructional manuals, etc.
Q: Who can participate in the Challenge?
A: All Idaho teens, ages 12 – 19, can participate.
Q: What about sixth-graders who are 11 but will turn 12 this year?
A: They can definitely participate in the Challenge!
Q: Can my library use our own tracking system, like Beanstack, instead of the tracking sheets?
A: Yes! You can just send your stats to Jennifer in May to get counted.
Q: Can I print off my own stuff?
A: Yes! Check above for links to PDF’s for all the ITRC materials.
Q: Is there a way to get a copy of the Idaho Teen Reading Challenge logo?
A: Yup! You can download the ITRC logo and other ICfL logos here.
Info Session
We held an Info Session for this year’s program on September 2, 2026. Check out the recording here:
Questions about the Challenge? Contact Jennifer: jennifer.redford@libraries.idaho.gov
