10 Million Book Challenge
North Carolina is About to Read Together Like Never Before
Starting January 2027, 1.5 million public school students in all 100 counties will take on one shared goal: read 10 million books in a single year. It's the first year-long, statewide reading challenge for public school students anywhere in the country — and every page, every reader, and every classroom in North Carolina has a part to play.
The 10 Million Book Challenge is a year-long reading celebration for every North Carolina public school student, pre-K through 12th grade. It's not a test. It's not an assignment. It's a statewide invitation to fall in love with reading, one book at a time, together.
Beginning in January 2027, students across North Carolina will log the books they read — in class, at home, at the library, or anywhere a good story finds them — and watch their school, their community, and their state build toward one shared number: 10 million.
10,000,000 books read 1,500,000+ students 100 counties 1 shared goal
North Carolina public school students, in every grade level and every community, reading together for a full year.
Reading changes what's possible for a child. It builds the confidence to try something new, the curiosity to ask another question, and the imagination to picture a future without limits.
The 10 Million Book Challenge exists to make reading something North Carolina does together — accessible, joyful, and celebrated in every corner of the state. Together, we'll:
- Create confident and joyful readers
- Build reading fluency by expanding the time students spend with books
- Connect communities to classrooms to celebrate student reading
- Build shared pride in North Carolina's public schools
This is bigger than a single classroom or a single school. It's a statewide act of community — and it starts with every student, everywhere, choosing to read.
The Challenge is built on five simple principles:
Voluntary. No mandates, compliance requirements, or new work for teachers. Students and families choose to participate.
Celebratory. It's not an assessment, it’s a celebration. Every milestone is recognized. The goal is joy, not judgment.
Community-centered. Library story time, outdoor story trails, afterschool reading, a bedtime chapter at home — books read anywhere, inside or outside the classroom and in all languages, all count toward the goal.
Statewide and local at once. Every school and district sees its own progress. Every book read contributes to 10 million. Local pride and statewide identity grow at the same time.
Every page counts. Chapter books, picture books, graphic novels, audiobooks — the Challenge meets students where they are and encourages readers of all abilities to participate.
August – December 2026 Schools and districts are getting ready. Local Activator Coordinators leading the Challenge in their schools are connecting with communities, and partners across the state are stepping up to support the Challenge in every county.
January 2027 — Challenge launches NCDPI officially launches the 10 Million Book Challenge, and students statewide begin logging books toward the 10 million goal.
All year 2027 North Carolina reads together. Watch the total grow all year, and celebrate with us at every milestone — 1 million, 5 million, and the moment we hit 10 million books.
Every public school student and family — Read, log your books, and watch your school’s total grow.
Every public school and educator — Share the Challenge with your students and families, help them log their reading, and celebrate your school or district’s progress.
Community partners, businesses, and sponsors — Libraries, nonprofits, faith communities, and local businesses across North Carolina are already stepping up to support the Challenge. Learn how your organization can get involved
For schools and districts: Check with your school or district to find your Challenge Activator Coordinator(s) - your local point(s) of contact for everything happening between now and January.
For families: Stay tuned for updates from your school or district on how to use the Challenge Hub website when it opens, Challenge launch activities and events planned for your school community, and more.
For community organizations, businesses, and potential sponsors: North Carolina public schools, parents, nonprofits, businesses, and community partners are all invited to help make this a joyful, statewide act of community.
Have questions about how the Challenge works, how books get logged, or what counts as reading? We've got answers.
Ten million books. One hundred counties. One and a half million readers. One North Carolina. The 10 Million Book Challenge is part of NCDPI's Achieving Educational Excellence Strategic Plan, Pillars 1 and 8.