Make Reading Merry: 50+ Christmas Book Bingo Ideas
Looking for a fun way to read more this December? Add some festive fun to your December reading with these 50+ Christmas book bingo ideas for readers of all ages.
December is…
…a cozy time of year that’s perfect to spend under a blanket, a book in one hand, a cup of cocoa in the other.
…a hustle-and-bustle, sing-all-the-songs, decorate-all-the-areas, buy-all-the-things time of year.
Many of us want the first scenario, but end up with the second. There are just so many things competing for our time and attention. Slowing down in December can just be a challenge.
So, what about a little friendly competition? Something that encourages you and your kiddos to pick up more books when you are at home? Or turn on more audiobooks while you’re out & about?
A Christmas reading challenge — old school bingo-style— can be a great way to do just that.
Whether your family has elementary students diving into children’s books or high school readers who roll their eyes at the idea of Christmas books, these holiday bingo cards will add a bit of fun to your season. Maybe they’ll even become a favorite holiday tradition.
This can be a fun way to involve your extended family, a group of other homeschool families, or another small group, too. Create a group chat to celebrate milestones. Or arrange a Zoom party to announce the winners.
Over in the shop, you can purchase a pack of five bingo boards. But if you’d rather make your own, you can grab my free Christmas book bingo template. Use the challenge ideas below, or just let them inspire you as you fill in your own template.
However you use them, a fun reading challenge is a perfect way to encourage everyone to slow down this season, read some new books, and
Happy reading!
How (& Why!) to Play Book Bingo
The short answer:
- Download or print the bingo cards
- Mark off a square every time you complete a challenge.
- Win by completing a row, column, or the whole card!
The long answer:
Most of us become creatures of habit when it comes to choosing books. We pick our favorite authors, books with covers that look similar to our favorites, books that come recommended at book club, or books that the almighty algorithm suggests to us as we’re scrolling #booktok or #bookgram.
A holiday book bingo sheet is going to throw a wrench in that — but in the best of ways. Each square on the card offers a themed book, a different way to read them, or a book-related challenge. Winning is the same as regular bingo. A completed line can win the game, or you can aim for an entire card of filled spaces.
Each December looks different in our homeschool, but one thing is consistent. We set aside our regular reading books and break out our Christmas book tote. Inside, you’ll find Christmas magazines, cookbooks, picture books, etc.
Book bingos came into our homeschool when I had middle school students. They were in a bit of a reading “funk,” so I needed something to help them rediscover the fun of reading and push them to try new books & authors.
Since the holiday season lasts only a handful of weeks, the Christmas bingo boards are available in 3×3 or 4×4 sizes. (That’s why the familiar free space has been left off.)
Christmas Challenges Inspired by the Book
- holiday or winter graphic novel
- short story collection
- a new Christmas book
- your favorite Christmas story
- a classic holiday story
- a Christmas cookbook
- with snow or ice in the plot
- a Christmas book set before the 20th century
- a Christmas book set in another country
- with Santa in the story
- a story about helping others
- a Christmasy magazine
- a non-fiction Christmas book
- a Christmas story suggested by a friend
- a funny Christmas story
- a book about a Christmas tradition in another country
Judge a Book by Its Cover (or Title)
- a book with a red cover
- a book with a green cover
- a book with food or drink on the cover
- a story with “Christmas” in the title
- a story with “snow” in the title
- with snow on the cover
- with a winter animal on the cover
- a book with ‘red’ in the title
- a book with stars on the cover
Cozy Reading Challenges
- under a blanket
- by the fireplace
- in your favorite reading spot
- in pajamas
- by the Christmas tree
- while eating a candy cane
- while eating Christmas candy
- while wearing Christmas clothes
- while wearing a hat
- on Christmas Eve
- while drinking something warm
- while listening to holiday music
- while it’s snowing outside
- while sipping hot chocolate
Winter Challenge Ideas
- with snow on the cover
- set in December, but not a Christmas book
- set in a cold climate
- about winter sports
- about a winter journey
- by a snowy window
- with winter animals on the cover
- a holiday you don’t celebrate
- outdoors
- a winter poem
And a few more ideas
- Read aloud to someone
- Read with a sibling or friend
- Watch a movie adaptation of a Christmas book
- Browse holiday books at a bookstore/library
- Place a Christmas book in a Little Free Library
Get Your Christmas Book Bingo Cards
However you use them, these Christmas Book Bingo challenges are a low-pressure way to add more reading to your December while adding a bit of fun, too.
Ready to play? You can grab my set of 5 ready-to-use Christmas Book Bingo cards above or in the shop.
Both versions come with ideas from the lists above and are perfect for families, classrooms, or your Christmas homeschool.
What’s your favorite Christmas story? Tell me in the comments
About Tricia
Tricia is a 40-something mom to three. She loves Netflix, people, and laughter. And she firmly believes that homeschooling should include all three.
After years of ‘doing life’ — homeschooling, military life, homemaking — like others, she’s charting her own way… and loving it!
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