Blog · Gutenberg
Reading List block for WordPress
Curated book or article reading list with cover image, title, author, genre, star rating, read-status badge (Reading / Read / Want to Read / Recommended), description, and optional link.
Get Blockenberg
Free Gutenberg block in Blockenberg. The inspector controls and front-end behavior on this page come from this block’s source, not a shared stub.
What it actually does
Curated book or article reading list with cover image, title, author, genre, star rating, read-status badge (Reading / Read / Want to Read / Recommended), description, and optional link.
Inspector panels on this block: Books, Display. Those titles come from index.js, not from a shared template.
Behavior controls: “Status” options: Read, Currently Reading, Want to Read, Recommended, Did Not Finish; “Layout” options: List, Grid.
Where to find it
Gutenberg inserter → Blog → search “Reading List” (block name `blockenberg/reading-list` in block.json). Style it in the sidebar after insert.
How to use Reading List block for WordPress
- Install Blockenberg. Install from WordPress.org and activate the plugin.
- Insert the block. Edit a page, click +, search for “Reading List”, insert it. Category: Blog.
- Configure inspector controls that exist on this block. Open Books. Set “Title”, “Author”, “Genre”, “Year”.
- Check the published page. The view script reads HTML data attributes: data-opts, data-status. The block editor preview may not run the same view script.
Inspector controls from this block’s code
| Control | What the code does |
|---|---|
| Title | Text field in the inspector. |
| Author | Text field in the inspector. |
| Genre | Text field in the inspector. |
| Year | Text field in the inspector. |
| Rating (stars) | Numeric range control in the inspector. Range 0–5. |
| Status | Select control; the chosen value is saved on the block. Options: Read; Currently Reading; Want to Read; Recommended; Did Not Finish. |
| Description | Multiline text field in the inspector. |
| Link URL | Text field in the inspector. |
| Layout | Select control; the chosen value is saved on the block. Options: List; Grid. block.json default: list. Saved as `layout`. |
| Grid columns | Numeric range control in the inspector. Range 2–4. block.json default: 3. Saved as `columns`. |
| Gap (px) | Numeric range control in the inspector. Range 8–48. block.json default: 20. Saved as `gap`. |
| Cover height (px) | Numeric range control in the inspector. Range 80–320. block.json default: 180. Saved as `coverHeight`. |
| Show cover | On/off toggle in the inspector. On by default. Saved as `showCover`. |
| Show status badge | On/off toggle in the inspector. On by default. Saved as `showStatus`. |
| Show rating stars | On/off toggle in the inspector. On by default. Saved as `showRating`. |
| Show genre | On/off toggle in the inspector. On by default. Saved as `showGenre`. |
| Show year | On/off toggle in the inspector. On by default. Saved as `showYear`. |
| Show description | On/off toggle in the inspector. On by default. Saved as `showDescription`. |
| Show link button | On/off toggle in the inspector. On by default. Saved as `showLink`. |
| Link label | Text field in the inspector. block.json default: View →. Saved as `linkLabel`. |
| Typography — Title | Shared Blockenberg typography popover (family, size, weight, spacing). Saved as `titleTypo`. |
| Book Title | Shared Blockenberg typography popover (family, size, weight, spacing). Saved as `bookTitleTypo`. |
| Author / Description | Shared Blockenberg typography popover (family, size, weight, spacing). Saved as `metaTypo`. |
| Card radius (px) | Numeric range control in the inspector. Range 0–32. block.json default: 14. Saved as `cardRadius`. |
| Padding top (px) | Numeric range control in the inspector. Range 0–200. block.json default: 60. Saved as `paddingTop`. |
| Padding bottom (px) | Numeric range control in the inspector. Range 0–200. block.json default: 60. Saved as `paddingBottom`. |
| Accent | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #6c3fb5. Saved as `accentColor`. |
| Colors — Title | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #1e1b4b. Saved as `titleColor`. |
| Book title | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #1e1b4b. Saved as `bookTitleColor`. |
| Author | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #6c3fb5. Saved as `authorColor`. |
| Genre/meta | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #6b7280. Saved as `genreColor`. |
| Description | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #374151. Saved as `descColor`. |
| Star rating | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #f59e0b. Saved as `starColor`. |
| Card background | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #ffffff. Saved as `cardBg`. |
| Card border | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #e5e7eb. Saved as `cardBorder`. |
| Link color | Color control in the inspector. block.json default: #6c3fb5. Saved as `linkColor`. |
| Block background | Color control in the inspector. Saved as `bgColor`. |
What the front-end script actually does
- The view script reads HTML data attributes: data-opts, data-status.
- An IntersectionObserver starts work when the block enters the viewport.
When this is the right block
- Curated book or article reading list with cover image, title, author, genre, star rating, read-status badge (Reading / Read / Want to Read / Recommended), description, and optional link — that is the job of Reading List, not a generic content block.
- Use it when you need the editor control labeled “Title”, which exists on this block’s inspector.
- It matches pages about reading, books, list.
- Inserter grouping: posts, magazines, and editorial WordPress pages.
Notes from the implementation
viewScript: this folder’s frontend.js is enqueued on the front end for this block.
FAQ
How do I add the Reading List block in WordPress?
Install Blockenberg from WordPress.org, edit a page in the block editor, click +, and search for “Reading List”. It sits under Blog. After insert, open Books and set “Title”, “Author”, “Genre”, “Year”.
What makes Reading List different from other Blockenberg blocks?
Curated book or article reading list with cover image, title, author, genre, star rating, read-status badge (Reading / Read / Want to Read / Recommended), description, and optional link. Inspector labels on this block include “Title”, “Author”, “Genre”, “Year”.
Is the Reading List Gutenberg block free?
Yes. Reading List ships inside Blockenberg. Get the plugin from WordPress.org — no paid add-on is required for this block.
Can I style Reading List to match my theme?
Yes. Blockenberg’s shared typography and color panels apply here, plus any block-specific style controls listed on this page (panels: Books, Display).
Related blog blocks
Book Shelf
A visual reading list with a realistic bookshelf view, cards layout, or list — complete with ratings, reading status, and genre tags.
Article Series
Multi-part series navigator showing all articles with the current one highlighted and progress indicator.
Link Roundup
Curated links collection — weekly/monthly digest with categories.
Listicle
Rich numbered list article format for Top 10, Best of, and ranked editorial content. Each item has number badge, title, image, description, verdict and tags.
Reading Card
Book, article, podcast or course recommendation card with cover image, rating, category badge and CTA link. Multiple visual styles.
Reading Notes
Annotated reading notes for books and articles with quotes, insights, questions, and a star rating.
Get Blockenberg
Install Blockenberg from WordPress.org, then insert Reading List from the Gutenberg inserter.