Little Helmet Reading Challenge 2024

The Reading Challenge offers a different way of getting excited about reading and discovering new books. This year marks the tenth time that the Helmet Reading Challenge has been published. The Little Reading Challenge is almost as old, as it is turning nine years old this year!

The Little Helmet Reading Challenge focuses on items of the Helmet Reading Challenge for which books can be found in the children’s and young people’s section. The Little Helmet Reading Challenge is also suitable for adults who want to choose a slightly lighter reading load.

Search, explore and make discoveries

You get to choose the books corresponding to the items of the Reading Challenge yourself. Sometimes you will be able to tell by the cover which challenge item a book corresponds to. For example, perhaps there is a family member, hands, an order or suggestion or a lot of black on the cover? Ask a friend! Many consider the book recommendations received from other readers to be the best part of the Reading Challenge. Other challenge items will require some more research. Keep in mind that you can always ask for help from library staff. What will be the tenth book that you read this year?

How about taking up the challenge with your class?

A class that participates in the challenge can agree on its own, common rules. Will you get through the challenge together or try to complete individual lists? You can challenge another class, school or even the parents of your class. A single class can speak and read several languages. It would be great to bring these into the challenge. How many languages can you have on your lists?

On your mark, get set, read!

A good reader gets along. As you read, you learn to understand a wide range of texts and find words for your own stories. You will understand different emotions, other people and history, and know about different times, places and customs.

It is never too late to improve your reading skills. You will grow to be a good reader as long as you practise. Choose books that suit you. Once you complete the reading challenge, you will be many pages stronger.

Little Helmet Reading Challenge 2024

  1. A book with a proper noun in the title
  2. A book in which someone uses magic
  3. A book in which the weather is very cold or hot
  4. A book in which people play games
  5. A book whose author’s initials are not part of your name
  6. A book with an order or suggestion in the title
  7. A book in which someone falls in love
  8. A book with a family member in the title
  9. A book in which someone runs away
  10. The tenth book that you read this year
  11. A book with one of the four elements (air, water, earth or fire) on the cover or in the title
  12. A children’s poetry book
  13. A book in which someone spends time in nature
  14. A book in which someone engages in a hobby
  15. A book with at least three authors
  16. A book with photographs
  17. A book with a hand or hands on the cover or in the title
  18. A book that does not have a main character
  19. A book originally written in a language that has no more than 10 million speakers
  20. A book with the word ‘book’ in the title
  21. A book set in a capital city
  22. A book with a predominantly black cover or a title with the word ‘black’ in it
  23. A Finnish detective novel or thriller
  24. A book published in 2024
  25. A book recommended by a teacher or library employee

A printable version of the Little Reading Challenge (PDF)

Text and choosing of the items: Marjukka Peltonen and Sini Katves, Espoo City Library;  Heli Haaro, Vanttila School and Henna Ylihärsilä