Free May Reading Log to Encourage Daily Reading

Our May Reading Log has become one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep reading fun in our homeschool—especially during this time of year when attention spans start to shift and the school year is winding down.

It’s simple, no-pressure, and surprisingly motivating. One page. Fifteen flowers. One to color in for each book read.

That’s it. And somehow, it works.

There’s something about seeing that page fill up with color that turns reading into a small celebration instead of a checklist.

If you’re looking for a fun, low-maintenance way to keep your kids reading this May, this printable might be exactly what you need.

A colorful May reading log for kids showing flowers shaded in various colors, with a total of 15 books recorded at the bottom. This cheerful monthly reading chart supports positive reading habits and goal tracking.

Table of Contents

What’s Included in the May Reading Log

This one-page, black-and-white printable doubles as both a reading tracker and a creative coloring activity.

It works beautifully for early elementary kids—especially ages 4 to 8—and fits right into homeschool, preschool, classroom, or tutoring settings.

A bold title: “Reading Log”
A fun spring-themed design with kids sitting on top of the word “May”, surrounded by flowers and butterflies
15 flowers to color in—one for each book your child reads
A line at the top to write their name
A sentence at the bottom: “I read ___ books this month!” so they can fill in their total at the end

It’s simple, cheerful, and gives kids a real sense of ownership over their reading progress. The flowers are large enough to color easily, and there’s plenty of space to get creative.

We print our May Reading Log at the beginning of each month and hang it on the fridge. After each book—whether it’s a read-aloud, independent read, or audiobook—we color in one flower.

Our goal is to fill all 15 flowers by the end of the month, and it’s a great way to reflect on everything we’ve read together.

Black and white May reading log featuring 15 flower icons with a space to write the number of books read. This clean and simple printable is great for classrooms, homeschoolers, or library reading programs.

Why It Works (and Keeps Working)

One of the reasons this reading log works so well is because kids can actually see their progress. Watching those flowers fill with color gives them a sense of achievement that a list of book titles just doesn’t offer.

It also keeps things really low-pressure—there’s no need to write anything down, no tracking dates or summaries. Just read a book, color a flower, and move on. It’s simple, and that’s what makes it stick.

Even younger kids can take ownership of it, which is huge. They don’t need help filling it out, and that independence builds confidence and motivation to keep reading.

It gives them fine motor practice, helps build routine, and even encourages a bit of reflection when they see how many books they’ve finished by the end of the month.

A printable May reading tracker with flower illustrations, lightly colored with crayons and surrounded by purple beads. This book log encourages kids to read by coloring a flower each time they finish a book.

Want to Make It Extra Fun?

Here are a few simple ideas to make the fun May reading log even more engaging:

Let your child use a different color for each book
Add a sticker after each flower is colored
Print one for each child and do a friendly family reading challenge
Set a reward for filling all 15 flowers—like choosing a new book or planning a special storytime picnic
Laminate the page and use dry erase markers to reuse it year after year

It’s super flexible, so you can make it work however it fits best into your day.

Partially colored May reading log for kids featuring 15 flower illustrations, where each flower represents a book read. This printable reading tracker helps children stay motivated and visually track their monthly reading goals.

Books We Love Reading in May

May always feels like a fresh start — the weather’s warmer, routines are shifting, and the school year’s winding down. These are a few of our favorite books that just feel right for the month of May:

Miss Rumphius. This has such a lovely message about leaving the world better than you found it. The story and the illustrations are both beautiful, and the themes of planting, beauty, and legacy fit perfectly with the season.
And Then It’s Spring – A gentle, beautifully illustrated story about that quiet, patient wait for things to grow. It’s all about observing the world around you and noticing those first signs of spring turning into something more — perfect for May.
The Curious Garden. This is such a fun one about a boy who starts a small garden that slowly spreads across a city. It’s inspiring and uplifting, especially if you’re doing any nature studies or gardening this month.

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Need to print later? Add this to your Pinterest board or share it on Facebook. You’ll have it handy whenever you’re ready to use it!

More Free May Activities

Looking for more simple and fun ways to celebrate the month of May in your homeschool or classroom? Here are a few free May resources that pair perfectly with your reading tracker:

May word search – A great quiet-time activity that reinforces seasonal vocabulary.
May word scramble – Perfect for building spelling and critical thinking skills in a fun, low-pressure way.
Cinco de Mayo bookmarks – Colorable bookmarks to celebrate culture, creativity, and reading all at once.
Star Wars graphing worksheet – A math-meets-fandom printable that’s perfect for May the 4th celebrations.

These are all easy to print and add to your lesson plans, morning basket, or just for some extra holiday fun throughout the month of May.

Get Your Free May Reading Tracker Here

Ready to grab your free printable? Just pop your name and email into the form below, and it’s all yours!

Last Updated on 20 April 2025 by Clare Brown