Summer Reading Challenge

Summer Reading Challenge

The Summer Reading Challenge takes place during the school holidays every summer at a library near you.

The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries across the country.   

The Challenge, aimed at children aged 4 to 11 years, is to read six or more library books over the summer.  In libraries, there are stickers to collect and a medal and certificate when a child completes the Challenge. Children taking part online earn digital badges and other online rewards.  

Summer Reading Challenge 2025

Story Garden illustrated characters holding books, plants and watering can with Story Garden logo above.

Each year the Challenge has a different theme.  In summer 2025 the Challenge was Story Garden and celebrated nature and the great outdoors, exploring adventure, fantasy and the magical world of storytelling.   Artwork from illustrator Dapo Adeola brought the Story Garden theme to life; creating an enchanting world where children can find magical creatures, plants and flowers to inspire their next reading adventure. 

In celebration of the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden we asked children aged 4 - 11, to get creative and design a dream treehouse that would be perfect for the garden.  Children can win prizes for them and their school!  The Design Your Dream Treehouse Competition is kindly sponsored by arcpartnership.  This competition closed on 31 August.  Thanks to everyone who entered,  winners will be annouced shortly.

Story Garden illustrations by Dapo Adeola, illustrations and logo © The Reading Agency 2025

About the Challenge in Nottinghamshire Inspire Libraries

Taking part in the library

Story Garden Sticker Booklet surrounded by green leaves

Story Garden Sticker Booklet

  • Children sign up at the library to pick up their sticker booklet to start their challenge. 
  • Borrow books and get reading!  Children then choose the books they want to read, recording what they have read along the way.  
  • For every book read, children will collect stickers.
  • Every child who completes the challenge, by reading 6 library books, receives a medal and certificate.  

Library staff and volunteers are on hand to chat to children about books they have read.  It’s all free, fun and a great way to keep children reading over the summer holidays.

Mini Challenge: There is a bite sized version of the Summer Reading Challenge is also available for children aged 3 and under.  Find out more.

Taking part online

Children can also take part online for digital rewards.

  • Sign up for a website profile direct at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk (children will be asked to provide a parent/carer email address to approve sign up)
  • Set a personal reading goal for the summer.
  • Record the books read onto an online profile and leave reviews to unlock digital badges and online rewards.
  • Children will unlock a certificate to download when they reach their goal.

There is help and guidance available to support signing up to the online challenge from The Reading Agency.

Please note the in-person and online Challenges are separate.  Physical incentives such as the poster, stickers and medals are only avaiable via the library for those taking part in-person.

What to read on the Summer Reading Challenge

Children can read any books they like on the Summer Reading Challenge; stories, fact books, poetry, jokes, graphic novels. 

There are also lots of ebooks and audio books that can be borrowed from the library online to help complete the Challenge too.

About the Summer Reading Challenge

The Challenge has a different theme every year. 


Children who take part:

  • are more enthusiastic about reading
  • maintain their reading level over the holidays
  • return to schools keen and ready to learn
  • boost their confidence and self-esteem.

To find out more click here

The Reading Agency Summer Reading Challenge logo