Ninho Reading Challenge is inspired by our principles of inclusion, diversity, and multiculturalism. It’s designed for families to enjoy together, using children’s books available across Finland’s public libraries. There are many book formats to explore: print, digital, and audio.

The Accessibility Library Celia also offers special formats such as talking books, Braille, and tactile editions.

Visit your local library or the ones you love most, and don’t forget about Helmet and the Multilingual Library. Librarians are always happy to help, and you can also use the free online Ask a Librarian service if that’s easier.

If something isn’t available, you can request an interlibrary loan anywhere in Finland (a small fee may apply). You can also recommend that your library buy new books, such as titles in your heritage language, so they become available for you and others.

For more ideas and guidance, check out the recommendations we have shared in our section Ninho Library and our project Lukupesä. To find books in Spanish and Portuguese, you can also take a look at our Kolibrí Collection, included in the Helmet system.

Discover 2026 Ninho Reading Challenge!

Welcome to an amazing adventure for the most daring readers! Each month of 2026 brings a treasure hunt for you to complete with your children. We hope you have loads of fun together with every challenge and create wonderful memories along the way.

Once you discover new books, share them with everybody! Post your treasures on social media using the hashtag #NinhoChallenge2026 so more people can enjoy them, or email us at info@ninho.fi.

When the 2026 Ninho Reading Challenge ends, we’ll create a list with all the findings so more families can enjoy diverse and multicultural stories with their children.

And don’t forget to download our 5 fun templates! We’ve designed a super exciting tools kit to inspire both children and adults. In the following section you’ll find free templates to print: the reading challenge template, 2 Adventure Diary templates to fill out with every discovery (choose your favourite one), and 2 reading certificates: for children and for reading companions!

Download your free templates and start your family reading adventure!

12 reading challenges to enjoy with your children

January – Multicultural Children’s Book Day:

• Read and/or listen to a book recommended by POC-Lukupiiri.

February – International Day of Girls and Women in Science:

• Read and/or listen to a children’s book featuring a girl or woman scientist as the main character, or a biography of a female scientist.

March – International Day of Forest, Storytelling Day:

• Read and/or listen to a book in which nature, trees, plants, or forests play a central role.

April – International Autism Awareness Day:

• Read or listen to a book written or illustrated by an autistic or otherwise disabled artist.

May – Day of Families:

• Read and/or listen to a book featuring a family similar to yours, and another featuring a family very different from yours.

June – International Day of Play:

• Choose a pop-up book, tinkering book, magnet book, lift-the-flap book, finger puppet book, flipbook, or any interactive book you can play with.

July – International Day of Hope, Day of Friendship:

• Ask a friend to recommend a book. Read it silently, then aloud, and finally share it with another friend or a group of friends.

August – International Day of Indigenous People:

• Read and/or listen to a book by an Indigenous writer or illustrator from anywhere in the world.

September – International Literacy Day:

• Choose a book in a format and on a topic you don’t usually read, and try it for the day

October – Finnish National Day of Tales:

• Select a book of classic stories in your native language and a second book in your second language or another language you are learning or understand, and read and/or listen to both.

November – World Children’s Day:

• Read one Silent Book (a wordless book) from the collection curated by IBBY.

December – Human Rights Day, Migrants Day:

• Read and/or listen to a book that explores the experiences of migrants and/or refugees.

Ninho Reading Challenge is a Kulttuurikeskus Ninho ry project designed by Ivonne Carlos, and coordinated by Marta Bermúdez.