Chief Minister's Reading Challenge
Learn about the annual challenge that encourages and promotes a love of reading.
The Chief Minister's Reading Challenge is an annual event that encourages and promotes a love of reading. Students challenge themselves to read a set number of books within a given time period.
The Challenge:
- is open to all ACT schools, from preschool to year 12
- takes place between term 1 and term 3
- is run within dates that suit your school. Your school will let you know the exact dates.
- awards prizes to schools with the highest number of challenges completed for each year level.
This year's theme is 'spaces and places where we read'.
The 2025 Challenge runs until 12 September. Registrations for 2025 are now closed.
Message from the Chief Minister
Every year, tens of thousands of students across the ACT participate in the Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge.
My hope for the Challenge is that every young person in the ACT discovers the joy reading can bring. Once you discover this joy a whole world of adventures awaits you, and the knowledge you can attain is limitless.
To get the most out of the Challenge, try choosing books from different genres, sharing your favourite books and stories with your classmates, or exceeding the 15 out of 30 books set by the Challenge. By participating you can win book vouchers for your school library.
You can choose your own books or ask your parents, teacher, librarian at your school or Library for their suggestions. This year, why don’t you challenge yourself to read something different?
Join the Challenge and marvel at all the journeys reading can take you on!
Andrew Barr MLA
ACT Chief Minister
How to meet the challenge
Students can choose to take part in the traditional way, or by challenging themselves to read something different.
In both cases, there are no set reading lists. Books can be:
- novels
- non-fiction
- poetry
- books in a language other than English
- eBooks
- braille
- audio books.
To successfully complete the Challenge, students in:
- preschool to year 6 read 30 books
- year 7 to year 12 read 15 books.
For children in preschool to year 6, you can also record books read to your child.
Challenge yourself to read something different
If your child wants to, they can challenge themselves to read from the list of different categories.
- A text written or illustrated by 2025 CMRC Ambassador
- A text about an invention
- A text about a special place to you
- A text about an Olympian
- A text about the value and power of friendship
- A text written in 2005
- A text about someone who stood up for what is right
- A text about a holiday or tradition
- A text about Ngunnawal Country
- A text with alliteration in the title
- A book about Canberra
- A text from a series that is popular at your school
- A text about someone who discovered something
- A text about helping the environment
- A text about science fiction
- An Australian poem
- A text about a librarian or teacher
- A text recommended by your teacher
- A text published as a comic book or graphic novel
- A book published in the year you were born
- A text published as an audio book
- A text about the ocean
- A text written or illustrated by a 2025 Reading Ambassador
- A text about an Olympian
- A text written by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Author
- A text about Ngunnawal Country
- A text telling the story of a famous person
- A text written or illustrated by a past CMRC Ambassador
- A text published in 2025
- A text about a special place to you
- A text recommended by a friend
- A text written in 2005
- A text about the future
- A text about the value and power of friendship
- A text recommended by a Librarian
- A text about science
- A text published as an e-book
- A published piece of writing from a peer
- A text published as an audio book
Challenge ambassadors
Our ambassadors are established authors and poets who generously donate their time to visit schools to read books as part of the Challenge.
Emma Batchelor, queer writer and 2021 Australian/Vogel Literary Award winner for her debut novel, Now that I see you.
David Conley, ACT public primary school teacher and graphic novel author of That book about… series for 5 to 12-year-old readers.
Cate Furey, poet and 2024 June Shenfield National Poetry Award winner for Momentum.
Emma Grey, novelist of young adult fiction Unrequited: Boy band meets girl, Tilly Maguire and the Royal Wedding Mess.
Jack Heath, prolific author of 40 books including the popular children’s book 300 Minutes of Danger.
Harry Laing, poet and author of children’s books Shoctopus, Moonfish and RapperBee.
Tania McCartney, illustrator and author whose latest releases include Flora: Australia’s Most Curious Plants, Dorrie, Plume: Christmas Elf and Wildlife Compendium of the World.
Amelia McInerney, author of internationally published humorous books The Book Chook, Neil, the Amazing Sea Cucumber and Jeff Giraffe.
Stephanie Owen Reeder, author and illustrator of children’s picture books (Sensational Australian Animals is her latest book) and historical novels. Lennie the Legend is currently being made into a feature film.
Rachel Rooney, the ACT public school college teacher wrote and illustrated When I Sleep I Dream of Australian Birds.
Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, internationally published author whose most recent Aussie Kids series showcased the vibrancy of Canberra.
Information for teachers
We encourage schools to appoint a Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge Coordinator to support their school’s participation.
Registrations and requests for a visit from a Reading Challenge Ambassador in 2025 have now closed.
For a range of resources, including promotional posters, social media tiles, challenge reading recording sheets and student competition certificates, view our Chief Minister's Reading Challenge school resources kit.
Contact us at Chief Minister's reading Challenge
If you have questions about the Challenge, talk to your school or contact us.
The Challenge is grateful for the support of event sponsor Paperchain Bookstore.
Email
cmrc@act.gov.au