WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Second Lady Usha Vance on Wednesday launched the prize website for her 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, giving children across the United States a chance to earn rewards after completing their summer reading goals. The program aims to boost childhood literacy while helping students stay engaged with books during the school break.
Vance announced that children who complete the challenge can now visit the online prize portal to select a reward after submitting their reading log and written reflection. She encouraged families to keep reading throughout the summer and said there is still time for new participants to join the program before the Sept. 4 deadline.
“Reading is its own reward, but I’m excited to announce that kids who participate in my Summer Reading Challenge will also receive fun prizes this summer,” Vance said in a statement. She also congratulated children who have already completed the challenge and encouraged others to make reading part of their summer.
The Summer Reading Challenge is open to students from kindergarten through eighth grade. To qualify, participants must read 12 books over the summer, record their reading in an online log, and submit a short reflection. After completing those steps, children can choose a prize from the new online reward shop.
The expanded prize selection includes gift cards from Walmart and Dairy Queen, Crayola markers, Wendy’s Frosty coupons, Scholastic books, tickets to the National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C., and admission to the Crayola Experience in Florida or Pennsylvania. Students can also receive NASA patches and stickers, Freedom 250 collectibles, and Scouting America reading patches. In addition, every participant receives a personalized certificate, a letter from the second lady, an America 250-themed bookmark created with the National Endowment for the Arts, and an entry into a raffle for a visit to the White House.
The reading challenge continues to grow. According to the second lady’s office, more than 20,000 students participated in the 2025 pilot program. This year, organizers said submissions have already reached three times the level recorded during the same period last summer. Organizers also expanded partnerships with schools, libraries, and community groups. They added more support for children with learning and developmental differences. Furthermore, this year’s program includes new partnerships that celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Vance has made childhood literacy a major part of her work as second lady. She also hosts the podcast “Storytime with the Second Lady,” which encourages children and families to develop lifelong reading habits. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump joined her for a special Independence Day episode.
The reading initiative arrives as educators continue to raise concerns about declining reading skills and reduced interest in books among children. The second lady’s office cited data showing that literacy levels often drop during summer vacation. According to the announcement, the decline contributed to lower 2024 reading proficiency rates, including a 31% drop for fourth-grade students and a 30% drop for eighth-grade students.
Research from the National Assessment of Educational Progress also found that fewer children now read for fun than in previous decades. The percentage of 9-year-olds who reported reading for enjoyment almost every day has fallen by 16 percentage points since 1984. Among 13-year-olds, the decline reached 21 percentage points.
Education experts say those trends matter because students who read regularly often perform better in school. At the same time, many researchers believe increased screen time has reduced the amount of time children spend reading books outside the classroom.
Earlier this year, neuroscientist and former teacher Jared Cooney Horvath told a Senate panel that Generation Z has struggled across several cognitive measures. He also argued that widespread technology use in classrooms can hurt academic performance. His recent book, “The Digital Delusion,” has drawn attention from parents and educators who are concerned about children’s learning habits.
Through the Summer Reading Challenge, Vance hopes to encourage more families to make reading part of their daily routine. Organizers will continue accepting reading logs through Sept. 4. Children who complete the challenge before the deadline will qualify for rewards and other recognition while building stronger reading habits before the new school year begins.
