Second Lady Usha Vance has launched the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, inviting children to read in an effort to combat declining reading scores among American students.
The initiative, announced in a letter from Vance, encourages kids to explore “adventure, imagination, and discovery” through reading and to track their progress using official logs from the White House.
“We are excited to invite all children (K–8) to participate in the Second Lady’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge,” the letter continues.
Children are encouraged to read twelve books of their choice between June 1 and September 5—and to track their progress through a reading log issued by the White House.
Nicole Reeves, communications director for the second lady, told Fox News Digital that Ms. Vance is very excited to announce this project in the hope of engaging young readers throughout the summer.
“It is essential that we encourage our youth to continue learning outside of the classroom, and this challenge provides an excellent opportunity to do so,” Reeves added.
In the log of their progress, students must list the book titles and authors, the dates they finished reading the books, and a brief reflection about the favorite book they read.
Children who complete the Second Lady’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge will receive a personalized certificate and a small prize.
They will also be entered in a drawing for a chance to visit Washington, DC, with a chaperone.
To complement this initiative, here’s a selection of materials specifically designed to help readers keep up their progress over the summer: