This January, we’re partnering with Lerner to bring schools and public libraries across North America together for our tenth annual 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.
Spread the Word
We provide everything you need to promote your challenge, including flyers and social media images.
Share challenge information in your community newsletter:
From Jan. 1-31, [insert library or school name] is participating in "Starry Nights and Reading Lights," a reading challenge sponsored by Beanstack and Lerner. As you set new reading goals for the year, bundle up and join us on an adventure through the long winter nights, logging your reading to earn badges on your virtual bingo card!
We challenge our community to read and log at least [insert goal] during the challenge. For logging your minutes read, you will earn fun, new badges. And don’t forget to earn bingo! The top-performing libraries and schools will even win special prizes.
Tag us on Social Media:
Use hashtags #StarryNightsAndReadingLights #WinterReading2027 #JoyfulReading #Lerner and tag us for a boost:
Facebook: facebook.com/BeanstackOfficial & facebook.com/lernerbooks
Instagram: @beanstackofficial @lernerbooks
X (Twitter): @beanstackapp
Prizes & Eligibility
All libraries and schools are eligible to join the challenge for a chance to win these prizes for the top-performing communities:
🏆 Grand Prize
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
🌟 Honorable Mention
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
🎉 Runner-up
Twenty-five additional schools and public libraries will receive:
- One set of Pangu’s Shadow and Zeyna Lost and Found
To qualify for prizes from Beanstack, your school or library must be an active Beanstack partner and set up a winter reading challenge using one of our official “Starry Nights and Reading Lights” templates.
Note: By participating in this challenge, participants agree to allow their school or library's name to be publicly announced if they are selected as a winner.
Spanish assets are available upon request at https://landing.beanstack.com/support
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