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Summer Reading Challenge

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

The Summer Reading Challenge will return to Inspire Libraries in July 2022.  

Gadgeteers will be a celebration of reading, imagination and science.  

The Summer Reading Challenge 2022 has been developed in partnership with the Science Museum Group and will feature the Gadgeteers – six fictional young innovators who, using creative thinking and teamwork, plan a party for their town’s summer fair celebration. Children taking part in the challenge will help the Gadgeteers come up with ingenious inventions to make the summer party the best ever.

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 receive a medal and a certificate.   Children taking part online earn digital badges and other online rewards with  a certificate to download at the end of the challenge.

A young boy, smiling, holds up a Summer Reading Challenge medal.

Summer Reading Challenge 2019: 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 2021: Wild World Heroes

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Developed in partnership with WWF, the world's leading independent conservation organisation.   The 2021 Summer Reading Challenge, Wild World Heroes was a celebration of reading, nature and action for the environment.    

7,430 children in Nottinghamshire took part in the challenge in 2021 (including the Mini Challenge).  

How the Summer Reading Challenge works

  • Children sign up at the library to start their Challenge.
  • Borrow books from the library  - Children choose the books they want to read on their Challenge, recording what they have read in their folder.  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.
It’s all free, fun and a great way to keep children reading over the summer holidays.

Children can also take part online for digital rewards by signing up for a website profile direct at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk (they’ll be asked to provide a parent/carer email address to approve signup)

Children can read any books they like on the Summer Reading Challenge; stories, fact books, poetry, jokes, graphic novels.   For  book recommendations head to our children's book recommendations page.


Parent/Carer Comments

"The Summer Reading Challenge is an excellent idea.  It has really helped encourage my two to read, I have never seen them so excited about books.  I certainly will encourage them to take part every year and to continue to use the library in the mean time."

"We really enjoy the challenge - it gives a real focus over the Summer to keep reading on a regular basis."