Copper Black Award Nominations - Mensa Members

The Mensa Foundation celebrates young readers worldwide, recognizing their dedication to exploring timeless works and fostering a lifelong passion for reading.

Discover the Excellence in Reading Program

The Excellence in Reading Program invites readers of all ages to explore expertly curated lists of classic literature. These lists, inspired by the National Endowment for the Humanities, include timeless works that offer profound insights into the human experience and cultivate critical thinking.

Participants who complete their selected list earn a certificate and a commemorative t-shirt, celebrating their commitment to intellectual growth and the joy of reading.

Participate

How to Achieve Excellence in Reading

To complete the Mensa Foundation’s Excellence in Reading Program and earn recognition for your dedication, follow these steps:

Select your list

Determine which list is right for you or your reader. We encourage readers to read to their level of ability or interest, regardless of their age or grade level. Readers may use five nonfiction books to replace any five books from the same grade-level segment.

Track your progress

Print the appropriate list and track each book you read by checking it off and recording the date it was read, along with a rating. The form must be completed by hand – we operate on the honor system, and we encourage honesty in this way

Complete your list

Once you’ve read every book on your list, double check that you have a date of completion and star-rating for each book, and sign your list. A parent, guardian, or educator must also sign and verify any list completed by readers under 18.

Fill out your award order form

Print and complete the Excellence in Reading T-shirt Order Form – the information provided here is used to create your reader’s certificate, so please write your reader’s name as you’d like it to appear on their certificate.

Mail in your completed list and order form

Return your completed Excellence in Reading materials to the mailing address listed on the order form. Please submit the original reading list used, even if it is very messy. Copying the list over to make it neater may result in rejection. We reserve the right to request additional confirmation of completion of the program and/or to refuse to grant recognition. Once we’ve received your signed list and verified it, we’ll send you a recognition certificate and T-shirt. Please allow 6 weeks for delivery.

Lists

Reading Lists

Explore expertly curated reading lists created by the Mensa Foundation to inspire a love of literature and foster intellectual growth. Select the list that best suits your reader’s age and interests.

Kindergarten through Grade 3

With picture book classics and early chapter books, the K-3 reading list will grow with your younger reader as they learn to read independently.

Grades 4 through 6

The middle grade essentials and award-winning series have timeless themes and rich characters

Grades 7 and 8

Maturing and thoughtful readers will appreciate the powerful ideas explored in titles like Fahrenheit 451, The Outsiders, and A Wrinkle in Time.

Grades 9 through 12

This expansive list includes enduring masterpieces that are considered foundational in western literature.

Frequently asked questions

Have more questions? Contact us

Who can participate?

The Excellence in Reading program is open to participants around the world, of all ages and reading abilities. Participants do not need to be gifted or affiliated with the Mensa Foundation in any way.

Can the books be read aloud?

Yes – reading aloud is a wonderful way for families and classrooms to complete the Excellence in Reading program together. Readers may get credit for books read aloud by parents, educators, older siblings or reading buddies, and classmates. Readers may also listen to audiobooks or watch a video of someone reading the book aloud.

Can readers receive recognition for levels below their actual grade level?

Yes. We recommend that readers begin at the reading level best for them and then move forward or backward in the list.

Can I read everything on the nonfiction list for a recognition certificate and T-shirt?

No. The nonfiction list is available only as an option for replacements. You may select up to five titles from any grade level reading list to replace five titles from the nonfiction list.

Can I get credit for books I’ve already read?

For each list, you may count no more than five books previously read. The program is designed to encourage youth to read, and if a significant portion of a list has been read previously, you may either re-read the books or choose another list.

As an educator, can I complete the program with my students?

Absolutely! Teachers, librarians, and other educators may share the program with their students to complete in class, as part of an after school club or enrichment program, or at home. Educators may request Excellence in Reading award packets be mailed to their school by adding a note to their order form. Do note: if a student is absent on a day a book is read, they must read the book at home to mark it as complete on their list.

Can parents and educators submit a form and be recognized as well?

Yes! Adults who complete this program with the children in their life deserve recognition as well and are encouraged to submit their own order forms.

What are some ways I can motivate my readers to complete their lists?

While the Mensa Foundation only issues awards to readers who have completed an entire reading list, parents and educators are welcome (and encouraged) to reward their readers along the way. You may wish to:

Organize a Read-a-Thon
Set a classroom or family goal of reading a certain number of hours each week
Offer a small reward to readers for every 5 or 10 books read
Use the Mensa Foundation’s Elevate Your Reading activities to boost engagement with your reader’s favorite books

Once your students have completed their lists, consider ways your classroom and school communities can celebrate their accomplishments, including:

Recognizing awardees at a school assembly
Giving them a shoutout in a yearbook, newspaper, or other publication
Rewarding finishers with a movie watch party (especially if it’s a movie adaptation of a book from their reading list!)

Inspiring a Love of Literature