Extreme Book Nerd for Kids —

January 2 to December 14, 2024 —

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 2 and ends December 14, 2024. 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 2024 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 where an animal is a main character
3. A book that won an award
4. A book with a plant/flower on the cover
5. A book recommended by a friend
6. A book with a body of water in it
7. A book with a famous landmark in it
8. A book about food
9. A book with an insect or rodent in it
10. The middle book of a trilogy
11. A book with a person’s name in the title
12. A book not in a series
13. A book with a circle/spiral on the cover
14. A book with a map inside it
15. A book with a portal in it
16. A book about siblings
17. A book containing a mystery
18. A book that makes you happy/smile
19. A book you have read before
20. A book with a yellow spine
21. A book one of your parents read as a kid
22. A book with a verb in the title
23. A book with mythical creatures in it
24. A book containing a natural disaster
25. A book you found on a library display
26. A book with a vehicle on the cover

Details and Restrictions

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• Extreme Book Nerd for Kids runs January 2 through December 14, 2024.
• In this challenge, you will read 25 books in 25 categories (one book per category) by December 14, 2024. **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 14, 2024.
• 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 14, 2024.
• 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 14, 2024 will receive an Extreme Book Nerd for Kids T-shirt.
• 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.

Details and Restrictions

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• 50 books in 50 weeks! Extreme Book Nerd for Kids Your Way runs January 2 through December 14, 2024.
• 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 10 books published before 1999, 10 books published between 2000 and 2019, 10 books published after 2020, 5 award winning books, 5 nonfiction books, and 10 books found on displays 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 14, 2024.
  • 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 14, 2024.
• 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 14, 2024 will receive an Extreme Book Nerd for Kids T-shirt.
• 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.

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

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

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