The Week Junior wants kids to enjoy reading all summer!
Welcome to our 2026 Summer of Reading campaign! We asked hundreds of children from across the country what middle-grade books they enjoy most to create The 50 Books Kids Love Most list. We hope these picks will keep your child excited to read all summer.
Get the list!Enter to win books!
We’re challenging kids to read three books this summer (any books they like!) and enter our sweepstakes. Five kids will win books. Winners will be drawn at random, and the deadline to apply is August 5. Find the entry form here. Happy reading!
Meet the authors!
The Week Junior invites you and your child to a virtual event to celebrate our Summer of Reading series on June 3 at 7 p.m. ET. Hear from three acclaimed middle-grade authors who have exciting new books coming out this year. We hope to see you there!
RSVP NOW! 
Last year, Executive Editor Mindy Walker joined “CBS Mornings Plus” to reveal exciting picks from our 2025 list of 50 Books Kids Love Most. Plus, she shared tips for parents to keep kids reading all summer long!
WATCH NOW!More Summer of Reading fun!
- Kids can host their own book trivia night! Check out our tips to get started
- Make a bookmark! Follow our simple steps to create colorful character bookmarks
- Host a used book swap! Find out how to help the planet by trading books with others
Why is it so important for kids to read for pleasure?
- Reading for pleasure builds brain function, vocabulary, and concentration. Students who read for 20 minutes a day encounter 1.8 million words a year, significantly boosting their vocabularies.
- It builds empathy and connects children to people and places beyond their experience. Research shows that 74% of kids say reading helps them understand the world.
- It unlocks the door to learning for a lifetime. The key is to let children read what they want and to make it joyful and fun. Join in and see what happens!
