Reading Explorer: 500 Books Before Middle School

I originally started Reading Explorer in the fall of 2015. It was basically an extension of 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten with sheets to color in and stickers. Each sheet was a different habitat and kids moved their names along the habitats. I got quite a few kids participating, but they tended to lose interest and I never liked the poor artwork on my logs.

This summer I completely revamped the program. I used a lot of elements from my defunct winter reading program to make it both more challenging - this program is really directed at high-level and voracious readers - and to encourage readers to explore the library and different genres and subjects.

The kids pick up a folder with an instruction sheet and the first set of challenges. My volunteers made a bunch of laminated magnifying glasses to put up on the shelf-end with the participants' names on the handles. They can add stickers as they complete challenge sheets. Each 100 books (4 sheets) they will get to pick a "badge" i.e. a button from our button maker. When they finish they get a free book.

Instruction sheet

Link to Challenges
Right now there are 13 challenges. Each one has suggestions for what genres or subjects to read, a discussion question, a link to a blog or website with reading suggestions, and lists of books for younger and older readers. I did get a bit rushed near the end, so I'll probably update these at some point.


This is the original format of the program.

Reading Explorer Label
Complete Reading Explorer Log (This is a big file - if you want the original publisher file, let me know)






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