WorldKidLit Reading Challenge Award

by | Sep 17, 2025 | IBBY NEWS

A colorful poster for the World Kid Lit Reading Challenge Award. At the top, there is a logo with stacked books and the title “World Kid Lit.” Below it, large text reads: Reading Challenge Award. A list in playful fonts outlines the steps:</p> <p>Run a global reading challenge in your school</p> <p>Share your reflections in a presentation</p> <p>Win a bundle of books from every continent!</p> <p>On the right, a globe illustration shows the Americas with the text “Where will you travel by book?”</p> <p>The poster invites people to “Find out more: worldkidlit.org” and “Enter in September – World Kid Lit Month.” A QR code is included for quick access.</p> <p>At the bottom, logos of sponsors are displayed, including Bloomsbury, Blue Dot, Firefly, Gecko Press, Greystone Kids, Hope Road, Lantana, Levine Querido, Rock the Boat, Yonder, and more.</p> <p>Small text at the bottom notes: The Reading Challenge Award and World Kid Lit Month (September) are run by World Kid Lit CIC, a community interest company registered in the UK. Company number 15765635.

Don’t forget September is WKL month!

Every September World Kid Lit takes calls for a celebration of diversity and global outlook by encouraging reading international children’s books. This year saw an exciting new addition for schools and school libraries to add to their celebrations: the World Kid Lit Reading Challenge Award! This award promotes international and inclusive reading and, for its pilot year, schools anywhere in the world can enter, as long as English is one of the main languages of instruction. Students can read any books that fit the description of “world literature for young people.” The Award is for the most imaginative, innovative, or inclusive presentations, where students reflect on what they have read.

The Award is open globally for schools, designed for young people of any age up to 18, and IBBY UK encourage you to take part! All you need to do is run an international reading challenge in your school where participants will read a range of books from other countries and share what they have learnt in a reflective display or presentation. The three prize categories are:

  • Younger category for readers aged 0-6
  • Middle category for readers aged 7-12
  • Older category for readers 13+

The inaugural Award will be open for entries from 1 September to 10 October 2025 (midnight UTC). To enter, the lead teacher or librarian should use this web link. For full details of how to enter, see this PowerPoint slideshow (PPT). You may share these slides with colleagues under a Creative Commons License, and use them for an INSET or training session. If you have any questions about the entry guidelines, please email world.kid.lit@gmail.com with “Reading Challenge” in the email subject line.

 

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