Extreme Book Nerd for Kids —

January 8 to December 20, 2025 —

What is Extreme Book Nerd for Kids?

A variation of the Extreme Book Nerd challenge for adults and teens, Extreme Book Nerd for Kids is a year-long reading challenge that starts January 8 to December 20, 2025. For independent readers, grades 1-6. Kids read 25 books aligned with specific reading categories to earn an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd for Kids prize.

Extreme Book Nerd for Kids Reading Categories

Here are the 2025 categories for the kids challenge. Participants must complete 25 of the 26 categories to earn the prize. Titles that are linked have a downloadable bookmark to help you find books on the topic:

1. A Wild Card. Pick up at the Children’s desk
2. A book with a community helper on the cover
3. A book that is part of a series with more than 4 books
4. A book about a group of friends
5. A book set in summer
6. A book set in winter
7. A book from a library display
8. A book with a lion, a witch, or a wardrobe in it
9. A book with a mode of transportation in the title
10. A book with multiple narrators
11. A book with pictures in it
12. A book published in 2025
13. A book with royalty in it
14. A book found on the bottom shelf
15. A book with a ghost in it
16. A book whose title starts with “The”
17. A book by an author whose last name ends with a vowel
18. A book with a bird on the cover
19. A book with “Good” or “Evil” in the title
20. A book whose author has 3 or more names on the cover
21. A book with no “e” in the title
22. A book that takes place at school
23. A book published in the 1900s
24. A book with a purple cover
25. A book with a ‘x’, ‘y’, or ‘z’ in title
26. A historical fiction book

Details and Restrictions

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• Extreme Book Nerd for Kids runs January 8 to December 20, 2025.
• In this challenge, you will read 25 books in 25 categories (one book per category) by December 20, 2025. **There are 26 categories – you choose which category to skip.   See all categories.
• You must be an independent reader in grades 1-6 and not participating in the teen program.
• The title and author of every book read for Extreme Book Nerd for Kids must be recorded in your Extreme Book Nerd for Kids reading log on Beanstack.
• Library staff must sign off on your completed challenge in your Extreme Book Nerd for Kids reading log no later than 5:00pm on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
• Reading logs can be a journal, spreadsheet, list, or simply on Beanstack but the final list must be recorded in Beanstack at ifpl.beanstack.com.
• You can download the   Printable Book Nerd For Kids reading log (8 1/2 x 11″ PDF file download). Just remember that your books must be entered into Beanstack before reporting completion at the end.
• Books read for other reading programs and book clubs can be counted toward this challenge as long as they fit into one of the categories (i.e. summer reading program, winter reading program, book clubs, school assignments, etc.) and are completed by December 20, 2025.
• Books must be at the Junior Fiction, Junior Graphic Novels, and Junior Nonfiction level or higher. No other books from the Children’s department, including intermediate, easy readers, picture books, or board books are allowed. Magazines are not allowed.
• Books must be at least 100 pages in length.
• Books beyond the needed 25 will not be counted toward another challenge, nor will another prize be awarded.
• Participants who finish the challenge by December 20, 2025 will receive an Extreme Book Nerd for Kids blanket.
• Only 1 category per book. You cannot use the same book for multiple categories.
• You must have a current library card during the program and when you pick up your prize in order to be eligible for prizes.

To see the reading categories for our adult and teen challenges, visit our Extreme Book Nerd page.

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Details and Restrictions

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• 50 books in 50 weeks! Extreme Book Nerd for Kids Your Way runs January 8 to December 20, 2025.
• You must be an independent reader in grades 1-6 and not participating in the teen program.
• All books that are at least 30 pages in length, excluding board books, are able to be counted toward this challenge. Magazines are not allowed.
• You must read 50 different books to complete this challenge
• The title and author of every book read for Extreme Book Nerd for Kids Your Way must be recorded in your Extreme Book Nerd for Kids Your Way reading log on Beanstack at ifpl.beanstack.com.
  • Library staff must sign off on your completed challenge in your Extreme Book Nerd for Kids Your Way reading log no later than 5:00pm on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
  • Reading logs can be a journal, spreadsheet, list, or simply on Beanstack but the final list must be recorded in Beanstack at ifpl.beanstack.com.
    • You can download the   Printable Book Nerd Your Way reading log (8 1/2 x 11″ PDF file download). Just remember that your books must be entered into Beanstack before reporting completion at the end.
  • Books read for other reading programs and book clubs can be counted toward this challenge (i.e. summer reading program, winter reading program, book clubs, school assignments, etc.) and are completed by December 20, 2025.
• Books beyond the needed 50 will not be counted toward another challenge, nor will another prize be awarded.
• Participants who finish the challenge by December 20, 2025 will receive an Extreme Book Nerd for Kids blanket.
• You can only count each book one time. No duplicate titles allowed.
• You must have a current library card during the program and when you pick up your prize in order to be eligible for prizes.

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For more information about this reading challenge, contact us online or call 208-612-8460.

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