SIGN UP! 2025 Halloween Reading Challenge
Winter Reading Challenge 2025–2026
The end of the year can feel like a race to the finish line, and then January can seem to drag on forever. Our solution to both – good books! No matter what holidays you celebrate during December, it’s important to slow down and take a little time for yourself. Cozying up with a wintry read (or three) is the perfect way to relax and unwind.
To encourage you to continue making a little time for yourself through the next couple of months, we put together a quick Winter Reading Challenge. It’s a 3-book challenge, and you can read them at any time throughout the season.
To complete the challenge, just read one book from each of the three prompts below. You can read in any order and choose from our lists of related recommendations!
Prompt #1: Winter Olympics
We can’t wait for the start of the Olympic season in January 2026!
Prompt #2: Book About a Winter Holiday
No matter what holiday you celebrate in winter, we have a book for you! This is the perfect time to learn about other cultures and traditions or to pick up a novel set around New Year’s Eve.
*Christmas books also meet this prompt, and we have plenty for you to choose from!
Prompt #3: A Book Set During the Winter
Whether you want literary or historical fiction, romance, or a page-turning mystery/thriller, our winter lists have you covered.
Get the Free Printable Tracker
Ready to join? Sign up in the box below to get your Winter Reading Challenge coloring page tracker and join nearly 40,000 readers who get our Friday emails for book lovers!
If you aren’t a member of our Facebook group yet, we recommend joining so you’ll be able to share what books you’re reading for the challenge each Sunday in our What Are You Reading thread.
Winter Challenge FAQs
Q: When does the challenge start?
A: Anytime! Join now and read at your own pace.
Q: What do I get when I sign up?
A: A free printable coloring sheet, along with our bookish newsletter every Friday morning!
Q: Is the challenge free?
A: Yes. The printable coloring sheet, online book lists, and weekly emails are totally free!
We do have an optional membership program that helps support Book Girls’ Guide and provides extra perks to members, but it’s totally optional, and you can complete this challenge at no cost.
Q: Do audiobooks and ebooks count?
A: Absolutely—any format you enjoy counts.
Q: How many books do I need to read?
A: Choose one book per prompt (for a total of 3 books) or as many as you like—this is a no-stress challenge.
Q: What do I do when I finish reading?
A: At the end of the season, members of our Read with the Book Girls Facebook group will have an opportunity to share what they read for each prompt in the Winter Reading Challenge. Be sure to join the group now so you can participate!
If you enjoy sharing your reading online, we also have ready-made templates for this challenge below!
Social Sharing & Canva Templates
You can choose from square or portrait (sized for stories), and both sizes are available as a Canva Template or as an image file that you can use in any editing program!
SQUARE: Canva Template | Download JPG
9:16 FOR STORIES: Canva Template | Download JPG
We hope you enjoy the new coloring sheet and challenge prompts. Happy winter reading!
