This celebration of reading not only encourages a love for rich literature but also enhances students' comprehension skills and creates a sense of camaraderie. The Newbery medal, named after John Newbery, the pioneer of children's literature, is an annual award given by the American Library Association. Although Newbery books and awards are recognized nationally, the reading challenge is special to Graland and exposes students to a variety of genres and encourages them to explore literature they may not have picked up otherwise. As students progress through the challenge, they develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments, often surpassing their own expectations by reading 25, and in some cases, even 45 books in four short months! Furthermore, students who surpass the 25 book-mark are awarded a place in the Newbery Hall of Fame at Graland, where their name is included on the recognition wall.

Throughout the challenge, students engage in discussions, sharing their favorite books, recommending titles to one another, and learning to identify books they are ready to tackle independently. The Newbery Reading Challenge at Graland is nurturing a lifelong love for reading, and creating a supportive environment that values knowledge, growth, and the exploration of new ideas.