It’s time to kick off our most-anticipated event of the year—the Reshelving Alexandria Reading Challenges! 🎉🎉🎉
This year’s theme is Our Better Angels, and we’ve created five unique full challenges to inspire readers of all ages:
This year, two quotes have deeply moved me—they’ve dug their hooks into my heart, and I just can’t seem to shake them. The first is from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which reminds us of the greater purpose in our lives: “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” Dickens’s words bring me to tears and challenge me to make sure my priorities are right.
The second quote (which I searched out after hearing a few words from it in a West Wing episode) comes from Abraham Lincoln’s first Inaugural Address, which speaks to the power of unity and love in even the most divided times: “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
These words have inspired me to shape this year’s reading challenge around something dear to my heart—hope and humanity. The Our Better Angels Challenge will encourage us to read books that explore the depth of our shared experiences, enlarge our empathy, and help us grow in love for our families, neighbors, and communities. Let’s read this year with the hope of becoming more loving, compassionate, kind, and quick to forgive on this, our journey together.
Ready to dive into our 2026 Reading Challenge? Check out our handy printables to keep you organized and motivated all year long! Whether you’re tackling one category or the whole challenge, our How To guide will walk you through how to make the most of these resources- so make sure to click over to it if you missed it!
Let’s get started with the next step—seeing the full challenges, printing them off, and starting to fill them in!
Your next great year of reading is waiting!
Full Printable Sets:
All of the Reading Challenge category lists are in these downloads below (other downloads are towards the bottom of the page):
The Challenges Themselves:
(click on any image to expand)
✨12 Books
Welcome to the 12-Book Our Better Angels Reading Challenge! If you’ve been feeling like life has been a bit too busy to keep up with reading, this is the perfect way to ease back in.
Whether it’s school, work, or just the general hustle, we all know how easy it is to fall out of the reading habit. But if you’re ready to reconnect with books in a way that feels manageable (and meaningful!), this challenge is for you.
This year, with our focus on hope and humanity, the books in this challenge will explore forgiveness, mercy, unexpected friendships, and all the little ways love makes the world better. Whether you’re rediscovering a favorite or picking up something new, these stories will inspire and grow your heart.
And hey, we’re not Goodreads—feel free to re-read a favorite and count it every time. Reading should be joyful, not stressful!
Let’s take this journey together!
✨52 Books
Ready to go all in? Welcome to the 52-Book Reading Challenge! This one’s for those who are eager to dive deep into a year of reading, with 40 additional categories added to the 12 from our Basic Reading Challenge.
Don’t worry, this challenge isn’t just for adults—kids as young as 5 have taken it on and loved it! If the thought of 52 books feels a bit overwhelming, consider making it a family adventure. You can split up the categories among family members and tackle it together, each person contributing their own unique picks. It’s a wonderful way to bond and explore stories while making the load lighter for everyone.
This year’s theme is all about celebrating relationships, heritage, and the connections that shape who we are. Whether you’re reading solo or as a family, this challenge will help you discover new perspectives and deepen your love for books.
And don’t forget—mix in adult books, kids’ books, or even picture books! You’ll be amazed at the joy and depth a beautifully illustrated book can add to the experience.
So, take the leap—this is your year to read big! 🌟 Click on the images for a closer look.
✨Family Read-Aloud
The Family Read-Aloud Challenge is one of my absolute favorites, and this year’s theme makes it even more meaningful. There’s something special about gathering your loved ones and sharing stories together—whether it’s reading aloud by the fire, listening to audiobooks on a road trip, or sharing cozy chapters at bedtime. The goal is simple: to create a shared storybook of memories, adding tales to your family’s collective language that inspire closeness, spark conversation, and provide a foundation of hope and truth as you face life’s challenges ahead.
Are you a college student with roommates? Why not invite them to join in on the fun? You might be surprised how quickly they’ll get hooked on the magic of a good story shared together.
Stories have a unique way of connecting us, building a sense of unity, and giving us common ground to stand on. Start building your family’s literary legacy today!
✨Children’s Challenge
Our Children’s Reading Challenge this year is an even dozen of categories, designed to inspire courage, teamwork, and self-reflection. These stories encourage kids to step into the shoes of others, face challenges with bravery, and grow through their experiences. As they explore the emotional dynamics of different families, they’ll also learn valuable lessons about resilience, working together, and understanding themselves and others better.
We’ve also added three bonus categories, which can be used as alternates or for kids who want to take on more than the original 12. Whether your child enjoys heartwarming stories, thrilling adventures, or moments of personal growth, this challenge is the perfect opportunity to build empathy and grow through reading.
I’m excited to hear about the stories your kids loved the most and the new strengths they discovered along the way!
✨Teen Challenge
Our 20-Book Teen Reading Challenge is perfect for readers who are ready to dive into new literary adventures—and for those of you who have joined us in the past, it’s a chance to keep the momentum going and challenge yourself even more this year!
Whether you’re a returning teen who loved this challenge before or you’re looking for the sweet spot between the 12-Book and 52-Book Challenges, this is your chance to keep growing as a reader. And why not make it even more fun? Challenge a friend or two to join you on the adventure! The more, the merrier.
If you’re an adult looking for a middle ground between the 12-Book and 52-Book Challenges, or if you’re just seeking a fun bonus summer challenge, this is a perfect option for you, too!
End-of-Year Visual Challenge Completion Templates:
Picture this: an eye candy experience that complements your reading journey perfectly, allowing you to fill in the blanks as you go that you can refer back to in the future or share on socials! Our end-of-year visual challenges, shown above, are designed to enhance your reading experience, making it even more captivating and memorable. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to add an extra layer of excitement to your reading escapades! Click one of the links below to access the visual challenges and embark on a visual journey that mirrors the richness of the stories you’re discovering!
If you share your completed image or progress on social media, please tag us so we can celebrate with you! #RAReadingChallenges2026
Join us on FB in our Reshelving Alexandria Reads group to see other people’s finished challenges and to get encouragement and recommendations throughout the year!
Printable contains ALL challenges:
Annual Daily Reader Trackers, Quote Sheets, and a Map:
For Non-RAConsortium Members:
Want to be part of something bigger and gain access to all the exciting perks? Join the RA Consortium today and get exclusive access to our Subscriber Chat, book challenge check-ins, free book clubs, and so much more! It’s the perfect way to take your reading challenge to the next level—don’t miss out!
For Current Members:
YAY! You’re already part of the RA Consortium, and that means you have access to the Subscriber Chat and all the tools you need to make this year one for the books!
*Being part of this community means more than just getting access to resources—it’s about building connections, finding encouragement, and having a blast with our reading challenges and book clubs all year long.*
Be sure to check out our Literary Catalogue for some book recommendations!
Our Literary Catalogue
Welcome to the Reshelving Alexandria Community's Literary Catalogue! This is a collection of true, good, and beautiful books that we have curated through a lifetime of reading. This catalogue is comp…