BookstubReading bingo prompts for a card you will actually finish
A reading bingo card is a grid of prompts such as a book under 200 pages, a reread or a library book, and you fill each square with a book you read. A 3x3 card has nine squares and suits a season. Here are 40 prompts and simple rules for playing alone or with friends.
Coming soon to iPhone
What is reading bingo?
Reading bingo borrows the bingo grid for books. Each square holds a prompt, and when you finish a book that fits it, you mark the square. A line of marks across, down or diagonally is a bingo. You can also aim to fill the whole card, which is called a blackout.
The appeal is that prompts push you gently outside your usual choices. You would not necessarily pick a book from before 1950 or a book with a one-word title, but a square asking for one makes it a fun puzzle.
How big should the card be?
Match the card to your pace and the season.
Start with 3x3 if you have never tried. A small card finishes, and finished cards make people want another. A 5x5 is a project and best for a year with a clear reading plan.
| Card | Squares | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| 3x3 | 9 | A season or a quarter, about 3 months |
| 4x4 | 16 | Half a year for a steady reader |
| 5x5 | 25 | A full year, with a free square in the middle |
Which prompts are easy to fill?
Use these to anchor a card, so it is not all stretch.
- A book under 200 pages
- A book you have owned for over a year
- A library book
- A book with a one-word title
- A book a friend recommended
- A reread
- A book with a green cover
- A short story collection
- A book you can finish in a weekend
- A book from the bestseller list a year ago
Which prompts push you outside your habits?
These are the ones people remember.
- A book translated from another language
- A book from before 1950
- A book by an author from a country you have never read
- A memoir
- A book in a genre you avoid
- A poetry collection
- A graphic novel
- A book with more than 500 pages
- A book that was adapted into a film you have not seen
- A debut by a living author
Which prompts are about mood?
Mood prompts make a card personal.
- A book that made you laugh
- A book for a rainy day
- A book to read in one sitting
- A book that stays with you
- A book you would give a friend
- A book with a beautiful first line
- A book that surprised you
- A book that made you angry
What about format and logistics prompts?
These add variety and are the easiest to confirm.
- An audiobook
- A book read outdoors
- A book finished on a train or a plane
- A book you read in one week
- A book started and finished in the same month
- A book from a little free library or a used shop
- A book read aloud to someone
- A book read with a friend at the same time
What rules keep it fun?
Agree on three rules. One book can fill one square only, unless you decide otherwise. A free center square is allowed on 5x5. And a prompt can be interpreted creatively, as long as you can explain why it fits.
Decide whether audiobooks count. The guide on audiobooks and reading helps you choose. A card is a game, not an exam, so settle disputes in favor of the person with the better argument.
How do you play with friends?
Share one card and compare squares. Bookstub, an iPhone reading tracker in development, has bingo cards that travel inside a link. You choose a set of curated prompts, such as Under 200 pages, A reread or A library book, and pick a card size. Friends who open the link get the identical card and fill squares with their own books. Progress goes back as a link too, and completing a line or the whole card stamps BINGO.
A 3x3 card is free, and larger sizes come with Bookstub Pass. There are no prizes and the prompts are written in advance, so nobody can type free text into your card. See reading together for how the pieces fit. A bingo card also pairs well with the ideas in reading challenge ideas.
What does a finished 3x3 card look like?
Here is an example card for a quarter, with real prompts and book types. It shows how one card can mix easy squares with a couple of stretches.
Nine books in three months is three a month, or roughly 10 pages a day. Most of the squares can be filled by a single book if you allow overlap, so the real cost is closer to seven books.
| Square 1 | Square 2 | Square 3 |
|---|---|---|
| A book under 200 pages | A library book | A book translated from another language |
| A reread | A book with a one-word title | A memoir |
| An audiobook | A book a friend recommended | A book you would give a friend |
How do you design your own card?
Start with the three easiest prompts, then the three that stretch you, then three about mood. Check that no square demands a rare book. If a prompt would send you on a search for something you cannot find, replace it.
Mix the kinds of prompt so that one book cannot fill them all. A card made only of length prompts is a puzzle about page counts. A card with a good spread of length, genre, mood and format gives you a reason to pick up different books.
How do you handle long books?
A 700-page book is a good fit for a square that says more than 500 pages, and perhaps for nothing else. Give such a book its own square and do not count it twice. If you are afraid of long books, a prompt for one is a nudge, and the rest of the card can stay light.
You can also treat a big book as a half-card project. Spread it over two months and fill other squares with short books in the meantime. Bingo is a game of pace, not of speed.
Where did the game come from?
Bingo as a game of called numbers and marked squares has a long history. The Wikipedia article on bingo covers the background of the game. Reading bingo borrows the grid and the satisfaction of marking squares and leaves out the numbers. The result is a friendly structure for people who like lists.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play reading bingo?
Make a grid of prompts, finish a book for each one, and mark the square. A line across, down or diagonally is a bingo. Filling the whole card is a blackout.
How many prompts do I need for a reading bingo card?
Nine for a 3x3 card, sixteen for 4x4 and twenty-five for 5x5. This page lists forty to choose from.
Can one book fill two squares?
Only if you agree to allow it. The default is one book per square.
Do audiobooks count for reading bingo?
Decide at the start. Most players allow them, and a prompt such as an audiobook is a common square.
Can I play reading bingo with friends without accounts?
Yes. A link-based card gives everyone the same grid, and each person fills squares with their own books.