Families with children in the United States have a new free challenge starting in October to promote reading: read 100 books before the end of March 2027.
The organization Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) launched the sixth edition of Rally to Read 100, a six-month initiative that provides readings by authors, educational activities, book recommendations, and free materials to use both at home and in the classroom.
The program started on October 1, 2026, and will continue until March 31, 2027, according to the information published by Reading Is Fundamental for the 2026-2027 school year.
What does the 100 Books Challenge involve?
The idea is simple: children, families, and classrooms are encouraged to read 100 books during the six months of the campaign.
It does not mean that each participant receives 100 books for free. The number 100 corresponds to the reading goal set by the initiative.
To help achieve this, Rally to Read offers a calendar of activities, title recommendations, records to track the books read, and read-aloud sessions conducted by writers and illustrators.
The initiative is designed specifically for readers from preschool to fifth grade, although the resources can also be utilized by families, teachers, schools, and others interested in promoting children's reading.
How to Participate in Rally to Read 100
Families and educators can start by visiting the official Rally to Read page, where the campaign materials are published.
From there, you can check the calendar, access readings by authors, and download activities to use with the children.
There is also a printable reading log that allows you to note the books completed and track progress toward the goal of 100 titles.
There is no need to purchase program materials to use these resources. Reading Is Fundamental offers educational activities and reading tools available on the platform for free.
There are materials available in Spanish
A benefit for Hispanic families in the United States is that some materials are available in Spanish.
The official section of Rally to Read resources includes Spanish versions of activities related to the challenge, as well as a reading log and a certificate for printing.
You can also find exercises for discussing the books, activities related to the theme of the 100 titles, and other materials that can be used both at school and at home.
Not all the content on the platform necessarily has a version in Spanish, so it is advisable to review each resource individually before downloading it.
Two readings by authors each month
The 2026-2027 edition is organized around six monthly themes: community, sustainability, celebration, responsibility, agents of change, and innovation.
Every month, two readings related to the corresponding theme are presented, conducted by participating authors or illustrators.
Among the writers announced for this edition are Joanna Ho, Peter H. Reynolds, Rae Wynn-Grant, Devin Elle Kurtz, and Brad Meltzer, according to the press release distributed by Reading Is Fundamental.
The goal is for families not to limit themselves to just completing a list of books, but to be able to combine readings with activities related to each story.
How to keep track of the 100 books
There is no need to complicate the tracking. One option is to print the log provided by the program and note each title after completing it.
You can also keep a personal list in a notebook or family calendar. Breaking the goal down over six months makes the challenge more manageable and allows for celebrating small progress along the way.
Parents can also take advantage of the read-aloud sessions and activities suggested by RIF to engage children who are just starting to read independently.
Are they giving away 100 books to the participants?
Not for all families. This distinction is important because the name Rally to Read 100 can be misleading.
Reading Is Fundamental announced for this edition a national raffle through which 100 educators will be selected to receive 100 books each, donated by Barnes & Noble. In total, the organization plans to distribute 10,000 books through this initiative.
These books are intended for classrooms and organizations that serve young people; they are not automatically provided to every child or family participating in the challenge.
Interested educators should review the official conditions and requirements of the 2026-2027 lottery before registering, as eligibility and deadlines may differ from previous years.
The program ends in March 2027
Rally to Read 100 will continue for six months and will culminate in March 2027, coinciding with National Reading Month in the United States.
Reading Is Fundamental announced that the edition will conclude with a national celebration broadcast from a Barnes & Noble store in New York so that classrooms and families from across the country can follow along.
Until then, new readings and activities related to the corresponding topic will be incorporated every month.
Families looking to get started can directly consult the official Rally to Read 100 website and its section of free resources.
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