With any reading challenge, there are going to be a few challenges that are hard to provide recommendations for. This is because they are either really subjective (eg. a childhood favorite) or they are based completely on chance (eg. go to the shelf and pick a book at random). So, for this post, we’re going to look at a few of those prompts featured in the 2026 Reading Challenge, and give you a few tips in choosing your reads!
A book that makes you nostalgic
There are plenty of books that I think conjure up that nostalgic feel. But, while The Little Prince, Grandpa’s Ghost Stories, and A Christmas Carol might do that for me, they might not have the same effect on you. If you’re stumped on how to find the right book, here are a few hints:
- A book you loved as a child
- A book set during the same time as your childhood
- A book you enjoyed during a special time in your life
- Something you read to your children
A book you found on a library or bookstore display
This one is pretty self-explanatory…but just in case:
- A book you found on a physical display at a library or bookstore
- A book shelved with the cover facing out, instead of the spine
- A book featured on a digital “carousel” on a library or bookstore website
- A book featured in a library or bookstore blog post (it’s pretty much a digital display!)
Pick a book at random from a shelf
Again, I think the prompt speaks for itself, but…
- Close your eyes and grab a book off the shelf
- Skim the shelves until a title catches your eye (and don’t read the summary)
- Skim the shelves until a title catches your eye (and read the summary to see if it sounds like a good one)
The protagonist has your job or a job you wished you had
Obviously, everyone here is either a librarian or wishes they were one! So, why not check out a book about librarians? Or…
- A fiction book where the main character has a job you want (teacher, architect, etc.)
- A biography or memoir about someone in a certain profession (astronomer, chef, etc.)
A topic you know very little (or nothing) about
Since I don’t know what areas of the collection you’re familiar with, it’s hard to choose something for you. But, I can help you choose!
- Wander the nonfiction stacks until you find topics that don’t sound familiar
- Check out my Do You Know Dewey? series to find a part of the collection that you’d like to learn about
A book you’ve never read by an author you like
The great thing about libraries is that we all love different things! The sad part is that this means I can’t make a quick and easy list, since I’m not sure what books you’ve read and which authors you’ve liked. However…
- Pick up the latest book in a series you enjoy
- Find a new author who has written more than one book and read at least two of them (one so you know if you like the author and one for the challenge prompt)!
Choose a book using a book recommendation service or website
There are tons of book recommendation services online! Some cost money, but here are a few that are free:
Happy Reading!
