Join our 52-Week Family Reading Challenge
- lucindawatt17
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Celebrating The National Year of Reading 2026
2026 has officially been declared The National Year of Reading - a year‑long celebration designed to help people of all ages (re)discover the joy of reading and make it a natural, enriching part of everyday life. At Prince’s Mead, reading has always been at the heart of our school culture, and this year we are more excited than ever to spark curiosity, imagination and a love of stories across our whole community.
So… are you ready to take on our 52‑Week Family Reading Challenge?
What is the 52-Week Family Reading Challenge?
Each week throughout 2026, we’ll be releasing a fun and engaging weekly reading activity for families to enjoy together. Children, parents, grandparents - everyone is welcome to join in!
Whether you’re curled up with a classic, exploring a new author, listening to an audiobook or reading somewhere unusual, each challenge is designed to remind us how magical (and accessible) reading can be.
And there’s a prize for Prince's Mead families…
Families who complete all 52 weekly challenges will be entered into our prize draw to win:
£52 worth of reading vouchers
The top 10 children’s books of 2026
While the prize draw is for Prince’s Mead families, anyone is warmly invited to download the activity list and join in just for fun.
Local Literary Adventures to Inspire You
To add even more excitement to your family’s reading journey, we’re thrilled to highlight some wonderful local events celebrating books, storytelling, art and imagination:
Van Gogh Alive – Winchester Science Centre
22 January – 22 March 2026
An immersive, multi‑sensory art experience, perfect for sparking creativity and inspiring book‑linked discussions.
Pride & Prejudice Festival – Jane Austen’s House, Chawton
24–28 January 2026
A celebration of one of our region’s most treasured literary voices.
17–19 April 2026
Bringing together authors, workshops and events for readers of all ages.
We hope these events help ignite your family’s love of books and offer inspiration throughout the challenge.
Let’s Make 2026 the Year We Celebrate Stories Together
Thank you for joining us as we celebrate reading in all its forms, whether it’s a moment of calm, a shared bedtime story, an imaginative escape, or a chance to learn something new. Here’s to a joyful, story‑filled 2026 for our entire Prince’s Mead community.
