Children across Victoria have been exploring far off lands and going on countless adventures as part of this year’s Premiers’ Reading Challenge.

Minister for Education James Merlino today congratulated the thousands of students from across Victoria who had taken part in the challenge and experienced the joy and wonder of reading.

Signed certificates from Premier Daniel Andrews and former premiers are now being sent out to those who completed the challenge, centred around the theme ‘Reading: Everybody. Everyday.’.

In its 16th year, the Premiers’ Reading Challenge was established to inspire more children to read, helping to build essential literacy skills that support their education.

More than 3 million students have read more than 51 million books since it began.

To complete the challenge, students in Years 3-10 needed to read at least 15 books in the six months from March to September. For prep-Year 2 students, the challenge was to read or experience 30 books.

Children who have not yet started school were challenged to read or experience 40 books with the help of their families as part of the Premiers’ Reading Challenge for the Early Years.

More than 12,000 books featured on this year’s list and included novels, picture books, short stories, poems and non-fiction titles. Books could be read in any language.

This year’s theme artwork for the certificates and challenge was designed by Jess McGeachin, whose debut picture book ‘Fly’, published in 2019, was shortlisted for the World Illustration awards. Looking for Alibrandi author Melina Marchetta was this year’s Premiers’ Reading Challenge author.