Welcome to the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, hosted by South Carolina ETV and Public Radio!
May 7 - August 9, 2026
We are so excited to celebrate reading and all things literary all summer long.
Play along on Goosechase and enter to win prizes, connect with other public media fans and readers, and maybe even find your next great read. This friendly competition kicks off May 7 and will conclude on August 9. The first missions are active now, and new challenges unlock every Thursday, so be sure to check in to see what’s new.
At the end of the challenge, the person in first place on the leaderboard will receive a PBS Books tote bag filled to the brim with books, swag from South Carolina indie bookstores and a $50 gift certificate to their favorite pizza place. Second and third place will receive a PBS Books tote full of goodies and a $25 gift certificate to their favorite pizza place.
Not at the top of the board? No worries! There will be multiple missions that will include the opportunity to win books, experiences and more when you complete the tasks. There may even be a chance to attend live tapings of your favorite book-ish shows!
And when you complete ten missions, we’ll send you an SCETV Summer Reading Challenge sticker sheet to adorn your water bottle or e-reader with. Participants who complete at least ten missions will also be entered to win PBS Books swag (tote bag, mug and sticker sheet) and a new Kindle thanks to our friends at Books by the River. There will be two drawings for this give-away – one on June 30 and one on July 31, so make sure to knock out challenges all summer long for your chance to win!
Last but certainly not least, the top ten overall winners will be invited to join Books by the River for a live taping in spring 2027. You and a guest will be welcomed into our Lowcountry studio to watch the taping and then join the SCETV and ETV Endowment team for a relaxed picnic lunch by the scenic Beaufort River.
Have questions or want to sponsor a mission? Email Amanda Hamilton, Director of Fundraising!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the summer reading challenge?
While participation is free and open to all ages, we ask that anyone under 18 participate with a parent or guardian as the account holder due to the interactive element between users. This will ensure the safety and security of all participants. Any account believed to be managed by someone under the age of 18 will be removed.
How many prizes can I win?
Each participant can only win one prize from a non-leaderboard specific mission. For example, if a participant is selected to win a mission-level giveaway like Season Opener or Making Do, they will be ineligible for any other mission-level prizes that may be released later in the campaign. However, they will be eligible to earn any points associated with all missions completed.
When will I receive my items?
All prizes and awards will be mailed to winners at the conclusion of the summer reading challenge unless it is a time-sensitive ticketed event that will take place before the conclusion of the campaign, in which case it will be fulfilled immediately.
Can you send my gift to another person or household?
No, all items will be mailed to the name and address listed in the What’s in a Name? mission. You are free to gift them directly once you have received them. However, we do ask that items are not placed for resale as they were provided at low or no cost to support this campaign.
Can items be shipped outside the US?
We are unable to send anything outside of the continental United States at this time.