Reading Merit Badge
Seven requirements. Requirement 1 is a library tour and catalog search, 2 is finding books, and the long part is reading: four books of different types in 3, each with a review, a film comparison or a book talk; a how-to book and a project from it in 4; two sources about the world in 5. Requirement 6 is at least four hours of service, one of five kinds. Requirements 4 and 6 need counselor and parent or guardian permission first.
Elective Merit Badges Communication Merit Badges Requirements Service Project
The plan behind this
The reading is the long part
| requirement | what you read | what follows |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | four books of different types, such as poetry, fiction, nonfiction or biographies | for each book, a review, a comparison with a movie of it, or a book talk |
| 4 | a nonfiction book or magazine that teaches how to do something | a project from it, with your counselor's and parent or guardian's permission; a merit badge pamphlet does not count |
| 5 | any two sources about the world around you: books, magazines, newspapers, the internet (with your parent or guardian's permission), field manuals | a discussion with your counselor |
Four books, one how-to source and two more sources take weeks. Start reading as soon as you start the badge.
Requirement 3: one of three, for each book
For each of the four books, 3(a) write a review, 3(b) watch a movie based on it and discuss the differences with your counselor, or 3(c) give a book talk to your class, troop or patrol. You may use the same one for every book or mix them.
Requirement 6: at least four hours of service
With your counselor's and parent or guardian's permission, choose ONE and give it at least four hours, then discuss your participation with your counselor.
| route | what it is |
|---|---|
| 6(a) | read to a sick, blind or homebound person in a hospital or an extended-care facility |
| 6(b) | volunteer at your school library or a public library |
| 6(c) | read stories to younger children, in a group or individually |
| 6(d) | organize a book swap in your troop, school or place of worship |
| 6(e) | organize a book drive and donate the books to an organization in need |
Requirement 1: the library
A tour, a catalog search by author, title and subject, six books of four different types found in the catalog and then, with your counselor or the librarian, on the shelves, and what a library card is and how to get one.
What this page is
The Reading merit badge, drawn so the reading in requirements 3, 4 and 5 and the four hours of service in 6 stand out, with the service and the way you respond to each book drawn as questions. It is not a copy of the requirements: each step is a short label with a link to the official requirements, which are what actually governs and which change from year to year. The free official pamphlet is the fuller guide.
Sources for this page
- Reading Merit Badge Requirements, Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-12-31 · The requirements themselves, and the free official pamphlet linked from them.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.0.3 · The process every merit badge is earned through, which this page does not repeat.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.4.3 · Which version of a changed requirement applies to a Scout who has already started.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 4.0.0.1 · Why the requirements are not in the Guide to Advancement and are expected to change annually.
Last checked against its sources on .