The Great Summer Read-Venture: Mia & Sam's Reading Challenge Pack
How it works: For 8 weeks this summer, Mia and Sam each read for 20 minutes a day. You fill in a simple weekly tracker with each child, tick off books as they finish them, and hand out small rewards when they reach milestones. Each child has their own book list, built around what they love, so they can choose what to read next.
Assumptions: It's an 8-week challenge with a goal of 20 minutes a day for each child, which is what you asked for. I've assumed 5 of 7 days counts as a "full week" so a busy day doesn't break the streak. Mia's bedtime read-alouds with you count toward her 20 minutes. I read Mia's level as "early chapter books, read-alouds for longer stories" and Sam's as "upper middle grade." Every book on Sam's list is picked to avoid sad stories and to start fast.
A note on how these books were checked: My web search tool wasn't working for this job, so I couldn't check these titles online in real time. Every book here is a well-known title I'm confident is real and has the right author. Before you print, it's still worth a quick check in your library's catalog. If anything is wrong or unavailable, you can use your one free change request.
Challenge Rules
- Read 20 minutes a day. Reading 5 or more days in a week earns a ⭐ for that week.
- All reading counts: reading alone, being read to, audiobooks, graphic novels, comics, nonfiction, and rereading old favorites.
- Log it together. At the end of each day (bedtime works well), the child ticks that day's box with you. On weekends, you both write down the book and their favorite part.
- They can quit a book. If a book isn't working after a chapter or two, they can swap it, and the time they spent still counts.
- A book is "finished" when they reach the end, whether they read it, heard it, or a bit of both. Tick it on their Books Finished list.
- Rewards are earned, never taken away. A missed day just means starting fresh tomorrow.
Mia (age 7): Book List
Loves cats, horses, unicorns, funny stories and drawing. Reads early chapter books alone and loves bedtime stories. No scary or ghost books. Mercy Watson is already read, so it's not on the list.
Key: JR = just right · S = stretch (best read aloud together) · C = comfort read
| # | Title | Author | Type | Level band | Why it fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unicorn Diaries: Bo's Magical New Friend | Rebecca Elliott | Series starter | Early chapter book (JR) | Unicorns, sparkly pictures, and a diary format that's easy to follow | ⭐ If she loves this, try the series |
| 2 | Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue | Paula Harrison | Series starter | Early chapter book (JR) | A girl with cat-like powers and a team of cat friends | Mild rooftop peril at night, gentle overall. ⭐ If she loves this, try the series |
| 3 | Bad Kitty Gets a Bath | Nick Bruel | Chapter book | Early chapter book (JR) | A grumpy cat and lots of slapstick, lots of laughs | Silly cartoon humor |
| 4 | Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows | Asia Citro | Series starter | Early chapter book (JR) | A girl, her cat Sassafras, magical animals, and simple science experiments | A baby dragon is sick but gets better. ⭐ If she loves this, try the series |
| 5 | The Princess in Black | Shannon Hale & Dean Hale | Chapter book | Early chapter book (JR) | A secret-hero princess and her pony, very funny | The "monsters" are goofy, not scary. Preview if you're unsure |
| 6 | Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! | Ben Clanton | Graphic novel | Early reader / comic (JR) | The "unicorn of the sea" plus short, silly comic chapters | Great for reading out loud in funny voices |
| 7 | Cat Kid Comic Club | Dav Pilkey | Graphic novel | Early chapter / comic (JR) | Kids make their own comics, perfect for a young artist | Some potty humor. Great to follow with a drawing session |
| 8 | Phoebe and Her Unicorn | Dana Simpson | Graphic novel | Comic, upper early reader (S) | A girl and her vain, funny unicorn best friend | Some jokes may need explaining. Fun to share |
| 9 | Misty of Chincoteague | Marguerite Henry | Chapter book | Middle grade read-aloud (S) | A classic about children trying to win a wild pony | Great read-aloud. Mild peril (a pony swim and a race) |
| 10 | My Father's Dragon | Ruth Stiles Gannett | Chapter book | Read-aloud (S) | A boy outsmarts wild animals to rescue a baby dragon, short funny chapters | Great bedtime read-aloud. The animals are bossy, not scary |
| 11 | Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes | Eric Litwin, illus. James Dean | Picture book | Early reader (C) | A cool, cheerful cat and a singalong story | Easy comfort read for tired days |
| 12 | Harold and the Purple Crayon | Crockett Johnson | Picture book | Read-aloud (C) | A boy draws his own adventure, made for a kid who loves drawing | Try drawing her own "Harold" story afterward |
| 13 | National Geographic Readers: Cats vs. Dogs | Elizabeth Carney | Nonfiction | Early reader (JR) | Real cat facts with photos | Nonfiction |
| 14 | Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals | Ed Emberley | Nonfiction (how-to) | Early reader (JR) | Step-by-step animal drawings using simple shapes | Nonfiction. Keep paper handy |
| 15 | Draw 50 Horses | Lee J. Ames | Nonfiction (how-to) | Read with an adult (S) | Horses and drawing in one book | Nonfiction. Some steps are tricky, so draw alongside her |
Sam (age 10): Book List
Loves Minecraft, space, mysteries and video games. Reads above grade level and races through series, but needs a fast first chapter. No sad books. He has read all of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dog Man, so neither is on the list.
| # | Title | Author | Type | Level band | Why it fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minecraft: The Island | Max Brooks | Chapter book | Middle grade (JR) | The official Minecraft survival novel: crafting, mobs, build |