There’s something special about reading during the winter. The days are shorter, the nights seem to stretch a little longer, and a good book can turn a quiet evening into a journey anywhere.
This January, we’re partnering with Lerner to bring schools and public libraries across North America together for our tenth annual sponsored winter reading challenge: Starry Nights and Reading Lights.
Inspired by nighttime wonders and star-studded skies, this monthlong challenge invites readers to bundle up, get cozy, and make space for reading. Along the way, participants can earn exclusive badges, complete activities, fill in a virtual bingo card, and help their school or library compete for special prizes—including author visits and new books for their community.
A Winter Reading Adventure for Every Kind of Reader
Winter is a natural time to reconnect with reading routines. For schools, a January challenge can help students settle back into the school year and keep reading momentum going after break. For public libraries, it offers a fun way to bring readers back through the doors and keep the community connected during the quieter winter months.
And because every reader’s routine looks a little different, Starry Nights and Reading Lights gives participants more than one way to take part. Readers can log the minutes they spend reading throughout the month, or work their way across a virtual bingo card filled with reading goals and winter-inspired activities.
Whether a reader is exploring a new genre, listening to an audiobook, sharing a story with a family member, or settling in with a favorite series, every reading moment helps light the way.
How to participate
Starry Nights and Reading Lights is available to Beanstack subscribers. If your school or public library already uses Beanstack, there’s no separate registration process for the challenge. A school or library administrator can activate it directly from the Beanstack admin dashboard.
From January 1–31, 2027, participating readers can:
- Log reading minutes to earn challenge badges.
- Complete reading and activity prompts on the virtual bingo card.
- Encourage friends, classmates, families, and fellow library members along the way.
Schools and public libraries can use the challenge to create a shared community goal, celebrate progress, and make reading visible throughout the month. Beanstack’s flexible format also makes it easy to meet readers where they are, whether they prefer a straightforward minutes challenge or the extra variety of bingo.
Read for the chance to win?
The more your community reads, the more opportunities you have to celebrate. Thanks to our sponsor, Lerner, participating schools and public libraries can compete for prizes that include author visits and book bundles featuring two exciting titles: Pangu’s Shadow and Zeyna Lost and Found.
Grand prizes
The two grand-prize winners—one school and one public library—will each receive an author visit from the author of one of these featured titles, along with a set of Lerner books. Each author will visit a winning school or public library.
- One virtual author visit from author Karen Bao or Shafaq Kahn
- One set of Pangu’s Shadow and Zeyna Lost and Found
Runners-up
Two schools and two public libraries will win:
- A virtual shout-out from author Karen Bao or Shafaq Kahn
- One set of Pangu’s Shadow and Zeyna Lost and Found
Honorable mentions
Twenty-five additional schools and public libraries will receive:
- One set of Pangu’s Shadow and Zeyna Lost and Found
Every community that joins brings something valuable to the challenge: a little more reading, a little more connection, and a brighter start to the new year.
Bring Starry Nights and Reading Lights to Your Community
Get cozy, set a goal, and start reading. The stars are out—and there’s a whole month of stories waiting to be discovered.
Ready to make reading part of your readers' January routine? Eligible schools and public libraries across North America can join Beanstack’s Starry Nights and Reading Lights Winter Reading Challenge. Not yet a Beanstack client? Contact our team to get started!
About Lerner
Lerner Publishing Group creates the highest-quality nonfiction and fiction content for children and young adults in a variety of subjects and formats. Based in Minneapolis since its founding in 1959, Lerner Publishing Group is one of the nation’s largest independent children’s book publishers with sixteen imprints.
