Reading & Libraries
Mini-Challenge
The Mini Challenge is bite sized version of the Summer Reading Challenge for our youngest readers. Children collect stickers on a special collector card for the books they borrow and read.
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 runs in libraries all over 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 and other rewards for every book read and children who complete the challenge are awarded a medal and a certificate. Children taking part online earn digital badges and other online rewards, with a certificate at the end of the challenge.
Summer Reading Challenge 2024 medal winner
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
Summer Reading Challenge 2024: Marvellous Makers
The Challenge has a different theme every year. Developed in collaboration with Create, a leading arts charity, the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge celebrated creativity, imagination and the power of reading. Children, joined the Marvellous Makers who were busy getting creative for a big festival…but the objects they needed had mysteriously disappeared. With each book read children helped the Marvellous Makers find the objects they needed to complete their creations.
Also in 2024 our friends at arcpartnership sponsored a free prize draw, offering everyone who completed the challenge a chance to win some Crayola goodies, and allowing us to offer a small pack of crayons as an extra prize at the end of the challenge.
8,165 children in Nottinghamshire took part in the challenge in 2024 (including the Mini Challenge).
How it works
- Children sign up at the library 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. Library staff and volunteers are on hand to chat to children about books they have read.
- For every book read, children will pick up stickers along with other rewards as they progress through the challenge.
- Every child who completes the challenge, by reading 6 library books, receives a medal and certificate.
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.
Children can also take part online for digital rewards at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk (children will be asked to privide a parent/carer email address to approve sign up
Illustrations by Natelle Quek and © The Reading Agency 2024
Reading Recommendations
Children can read any books they like on the Summer Reading Challenge; stories, fact books, poetry, jokes, graphic novels.
Our children's book recommendations page has inspiration. There are lots of ebooks and audio books that can be borrowed from the library online to help complete the online challenge.
Explore a selection of books inspired by the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge theme on our pintrest board below; celebrating the power of imagination, creativity and reading.
Arts & Culture
Artist and Author in Residence
Each year Inspire commissions an artist and author to create and deliver a programme of visual art and literacy activity with our libraries for children and families, inspired by and linked to the Summer Reading Challenge.
Reading & Libraries
Children's eReading
We have thousands of free e-resources suitable for children to borrow. Why not give our e-services a try, all you need is your library card number and pin to begin borrowing.
Reading & Libraries
Our Libraries
Find your nearest library here. All Inspire libraries are taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge
