With our children’s summer break starting this weekend, we turned our usual reading goals into a playful challenge the whole family could enjoy. The idea began on a morning walk while playing a round of “would you rather.” Back home we sketched a simple paper bracket, and an hour later Sherry shared it on Instagram. Her DMs filled with requests for a copy and questions about where we made it, so we created two free printable options to share here. I even filled out a sample myself—yes, I’m a 41-year-old man—and had a lot of fun choosing cozy, silly, and surprisingly excellent reading spots (the kids’ choices were much wackier).
The concept is simple and flexible: have your kids try reading in different locations, then pit each spot head-to-head in a March Madness-style bracket to determine the family’s favorite summer reading nook. Should they read on top of the bed or tucked under it? On a pool float or inside a blanket fort? The bracket encourages experimenting with inside and outside reading spots, adds novelty to daily reading routines, and officially crowns the coziest place to enjoy a book.
Click To Download The Simplified Summer Reading Bracket Printable Above
After printing the simplified bracket (the version Sherry shared on social), we refined it to include optional time guidelines and a split between indoor and outdoor locations. The timed version builds reading sessions from 15 minutes in early rounds up to 30 minutes in the final match-ups, which gives each spot a more complete test. Dividing the bracket into inside vs. outside halves encourages children to seek fresh-air reading options while still letting cozy indoor favorites compete.
We let our kids choose their own 16 locations, which became a creative family activity. They picked many of the same spots but also added unique choices, including two neighborhood destinations to test whether “reading away from home” adds extra excitement. Watching them argue good-naturedly about which location should advance made the whole thing more fun and memorable.
Click To Download The Summer Reading Bracket Printable Above (With Times)
We kept the printable intentionally simple so kids can color and personalize it with markers, stickers, or drawings as they go. If you want a reading log, a few blank lines on the back of the sheet are plenty for titles, times, or short notes about which spot felt the coziest. The lightweight format makes it easy to print, share, and reuse across the summer while keeping the emphasis on play and discovery.
Other Reading Bracket Variations
This activity is highly adaptable depending on your kids’ ages, reading levels, and interests. A few variations to try:
- Theme each round by book type — start with picture books or comics and progress to chapter books in the semifinals and final.
- Add comfort elements by round — introduce a stuffed animal in one round, a favorite snack in another, and a cozy blanket later.
- Offer small rewards for advancing through rounds, such as choosing a new library book, picking the next family read-aloud, or earning extra time for a parent to read to them.
- Invite siblings to select silly or adventurous locations for one another, like reading for 15 minutes on a low branch of a tree or sprawled on a picnic blanket in the park.
You can make the bracket as simple or elaborate as you like. In our experience, the competitive element and novelty of trying new reading locations motivated our kids to start reading right away. If they complete all rounds, each child could log about 30 individual reading sessions and spend more than nine hours with books over the summer — all by following a playful bracket. For us, this isn’t a trick to get them to read more; it’s a way to make reading feel fresh and joyful.
Download the bracket versions above and let your children brainstorm their own reading spots. Then sit back and enjoy watching them discover new cozy corners — whether that’s a hammock, a floating pool chair, a swivel chair by the fireplace, or an unexpected bench under a tree. Happy reading and have fun crowning your family’s favorite summer reading spot!