What’s one way to get kids excited about reading all summer long?
Give them a goal, get families involved and invite Cat Ninja to help kick things off.
Epic School Plus partnered with Zela Davis Elementary in Hawthorne School District, California, to launch a Summer Reading Challenge designed to keep students reading beyond the school year and give families practical tools to support reading at home.
The challenge was simple: read for 20 minutes each day throughout summer break using Epic School Plus. But the school didn’t just send students home with a reading goal. It brought families into the experience from the very beginning.
Helping Families Make Summer Reading Happen
At a dedicated family engagement event on June 8, parents gathered with Epic School Plus, district leaders and the Zela Davis team to learn how they could help keep their kids reading all summer.
The school’s literacy team walked families through how to log in to Epic School Plus, demonstrated the platform and shared information to help students access their accounts from home. Parents also received login and class code information, giving them what they needed to get started right away.
Those details help make it easier for families to participate. When parents know what to do, where to go and what goal their child is working toward, supporting reading at home can feel much more manageable.
Then Cat Ninja Showed Up
Of course, every good reading challenge deserves a little surprise.
Cat Ninja greeted students and families during morning drop-off, with plenty of families stopping for photos. After the parent event, Cat Ninja headed to the playground to keep the excitement going and encourage students to take on the Summer Reading Challenge.
Picture walking into school expecting an ordinary morning and finding Cat Ninja waiting for you. Not a bad way to start a reading challenge.
A Reading Goal Worth Celebrating
Zela Davis students were challenged to read 20 minutes every day throughout summer break using Epic School Plus.
And there’s something fun waiting at the finish line.
Students who met the school’s summer reading goal would receive a Cat Ninja figurine and an Epic School Plus certificate, with additional recognition planned for the school’s top readers.
The goal wasn’t simply to rack up minutes. It was about encouraging kids to create a consistent reading routine and discover books they want to read, even when school is not in session.
Bridging Reading From School to Home
Summer reading doesn’t have to stop at the classroom door, especially when schools and families are working toward the same goal.
Zela Davis used Epic School Plus as part of a broader family literacy initiative, combining a clear reading goal with practical resources for parents and a little extra motivation for students. The approach helps extend the school-to-home reading connection beyond the classroom.
It also gives families another way to think about screen time. Instead of simply spending time on a device, kids can use that time intentionally to discover books, build a reading routine and read for enjoyment.
Ready to Start Your Own Reading Challenge?
A successful reading challenge doesn’t need to be complicated.
Start with a clear goal, books kids want to read and families who know how to participate. And, of course, celebrating readers when they reach the finish line.
From summer reading kickoffs to year-round literacy initiatives, Epic School Plus can help schools strengthen the connection between reading in the classroom and reading at home.
How can we support your school’s next reading challenge?
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What is Epic School+?
Epic School+ extends the Epic reading experience beyond the school day, giving students access to Epic’s digital library at home and helping educators keep kids reading wherever learning happens. It’s designed to strengthen the connection between classroom and at-home reading.
▶ How can schools keep students reading over summer break?
Schools can make summer reading more approachable by setting a clear goal, providing families with reading resources and getting parents involved. At Zela Davis Elementary, students were challenged to read for 20 minutes a day using Epic School Plus, while families received guidance for supporting the routine at home.
▶ How can families support a school summer reading challenge?
Parents can help by making reading a consistent part of the day, giving kids opportunities to choose what they read and celebrating their progress. Providing families with simple instructions and access to reading resources can also make it easier to keep the school-to-home reading connection going throughout summer.
▶ How did Epic School Plus support Zela Davis Elementary’s Summer Reading Challenge?
Epic School Plus helped Zela Davis Elementary kick off its challenge with a family engagement event where parents learned how to access the platform at home. Cat Ninja joined the fun to get students excited, and kids who meet the school’s summer reading goal will receive a Cat Ninja figurine and an Epic School Plus certificate.
