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Summer Reading Challenge

Free online fun with The Reading Agency and Inspire Libraries

The Summer Reading Challenge is back with SillySquad!  A celebration of funny books, happiness and laughter.  Aimed at children aged 4 - 11, the challenge encourages children to keep reading over the summer.   

Usually taking place in libraries, this year due to the disruption caused by COVID-19,  the 2020 challenge will be in an all-new, all-digital format.  

How does the digital Summer Reading Challenge, 2020 work?

Children taking part online will  meet the Silly Squad a loveable bunch of animals who run a fantastic fun house.  But beware: a mysterious baddy is waiting to spoil the fun!

Illustrations © Laura Ellen Anderson 2020 

  • Sign up to the Challenge at the Silly Squad website  www.sillysquad.org.uk  a parent/carer will need to approve the sign up.
  • This year children set their own personal reading goal to complete*.  (We recommend at least 6 books!) 
  • Children log the books they have read on the website, and can rate and review books there too.
  • Reading and logging books will  unlock digital rewards, badges and activities.
  • A downloadable certificate is available for children who complete their reading goal


*Children can adjust their reading goal throughout the summer if they have set too ambitious a target!

What books can be read for the Challenge?

  • Children choose what they would like to read on the challenge.  Story books, fact books, joke books - all reading counts!  
  • This year children can read books they already have at home, from school or from the library. 
  • You can see the range of eBooks and eAudiobooks we have available for children here
  • Reading Recommendations are available here
  • Plus a new book created by Inspire's author and artist in residence, Frances Stickley & Erin Fleming is available to read here 

Produced by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries across the country the Summer Reading Challenge is a brilliant way to maintain children’s reading enthusiasm out of school.  

What's Online with Inspire Libraries?

To celebrate Silly Squad, we are planning a very silly summer with lots of activities available online, including;  

  • Share a Joke Competition – share your favourite joke for the chance to have it transformed into a comic strip created by cartoonist Marc Jackson.  
  • Marc Jackson, cartoonist, will also demonstrate how to create comic strips.  
  • Author Alan MacDonald, asks ‘What happens next?’ in a story making challenge based on his Dirty Bertie series of  books.
  • Summer of Silly Challenges – We are setting children and families 3 silly reading challenges a week for 6 weeks.  Who can achieve them all?
  • Our Inspire author and artist in residence, Frances Stickley and Erin Fleming, have created an exciting new digital book just for us! 
  • The Big Veg Takedown- see our new animated, interactive story where you decide what happens next! 

   Each activity will be added below as soon as it is available.