2026 Premier’s Reading Challenge
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge has officially commenced and all students at Del Monte will be participating. Official rules can be found here. We have a variety of challenge books throughout the library which can be identified by the different coloured PRC stickers on the book spines. Alternatively, a curated collection is displayed in the foyer for easy selection. The challenge ends in Term 3 on Friday 18 September.
How it works
Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will be guided through the challenge during school. However, if families wish to add additional texts that are read at home, logins have been placed in either school diaries or in library bags behind student name cards. Students in this age bracket are challenged to read 30 books (20 challenge books + 10 personal choice books) with adults or individually.
Years 3-4 students are required to read 20 books (10 challenge books and 10 personal choice books) and will be taking more responsibility for logging their own books. Rules have changed this year enabling class texts to be included in their totals too. Students have been practising logging into the PRC student portal during library lessons and will continue to have opportunities to log books throughout the year. Login details have been (hopefully) saved in their password chains, but if there are problems please contact Mrs Doonan for assistance.
The joy and power of reading for pleasure
As we begin the 2026 Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC), it’s a perfect time to revisit why reading for pleasure matters so deeply for our children, both academically and emotionally.
Choice
Children are far more motivated to read when they can choose books that genuinely interest them. Whether it is a superhero comic, a joke book, a graphic novel, a sports biography or a book about dinosaurs, the goal isn’t about perfection; it’s about engagement. The PRC aims to encourage students to develop a love of reading for leisure and pleasure. Research shows that reading, simply for the joy of reading, has powerful and lasting benefits.
Benefits of reading together
Reading aloud to young children is one of the most impactful things families can do. Among its many benefits, shared reading helps to:
- strengthen bonds between children and caregivers
- enhance brain development
- build vocabulary (just one book a day can expose a child to 78,000 words per year)
- support early pattern recognition and understanding of language conventions
- improve comprehension
- model fluent and expressive reading.
This simple daily habit can make a significant difference in a children’s language development across their entire lifetime.
Mental and physical health benefits
Reading for pleasure isn’t just good for learning, it’s good for wellbeing too. According to Reading Australia, regular reading can:
- reduce stress
- improve focus
- support emotional regulation
- foster empathy and resilience.
Beloved author Jacqueline Harvey reminds us that there is immense joy in sharing stories. They offer rich opportunities for learning, discussion and the exploration of characters, places and different viewpoints. Shared reading experiences help children connect with stories on a deeper level and build their confidence as readers. Similarly, reading for pleasure is a transformative experience. Books can transport us to different worlds, teach us new things and help us form meaningful connections with others and the world around us. Research shows that regular reading for pleasure is not only beneficial for children’s learning but also supports our physical and mental wellbeing (Reading Australia).
Further Information:
Facebook – Your Kids Next Read
Donna Mattick and Trish Doonan
Del Monte Library and Literacy Team