During the 2024 Challenge, over 13 million books were read and issued through libraries
Summer Reading Challenge
What is the Summer Reading Challenge?
1 in 4 children cannot read well by the age of 11. This hugely limits their life choices and skills. We’re on a mission to change this.
The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to keep reading during the summer holidays, ensuring they are ready for a great start to the new term in the autumn. Children set a reading goal and collect rewards for reading anything they enjoy. Children can sign up at their local library or online, and it’s FREE to take part.
This year’s Challenge, Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors, will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.
Official Book Collection 2025: Story Garden
Who is it for?
The Summer Reading Challenge is aimed at children from 4-11 years old. It supports this age group and their families by:
- Preparing children to get back to the classroom in the autumn.
- Supporting the move into a new year group or key stage.
- Boosting children’s confidence and self-esteem by supporting independent reading.
- Providing free access to books and fun family activities during the summer.
Our research
The Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest reading for pleasure programme for children, and helps get approximately 700,000 children into libraries each year.
In 2024, 70% of children who took part said they now feel more confident reading.
1 in 4 children don’t reach the expected level of reading by the age of 11
Get Involved
In the library
Visit your local library and sign up. Your child will set a reading goal, choose anything they like to read, and collect special stickers and rewards for their reading. Libraries offer lots of free activities and events throughout the summer.
Online
Sign up on the official Challenge website to take part online. Children can set a reading goal and get tips for accessing books for free at home. As they read books, they’ll unlock digital rewards, including a printable certificate.
Email us to find out how your library could deliver the Summer Reading Challenge.
Audiobooks for all
This summer, The Reading Agency, Spotify and leading publishers are helping to expand access to the Summer Reading Challenge by offering free audiobooks!
Audiobooks are a powerful and inclusive way to support children’s reading, especially for those who may find traditional books challenging.
Volunteering
Help us spread the joy of reading! Contact your local library directly to ask about opportunities to support with this year’s Challenge.
Volunteers at the library can get involved with things like delivering activities for children and families, handing out prizes, and talking to children about their reading.
Please note opportunities and dates vary between libraries.
Are you working towards your DofE Award?
Good news: we’re a DofE Approved Activity Provider, so your Summer Reading Challenge volunteering counts towards the volunteering section of your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award!
Resources
Lifecycle of a Plant Activity
Do you know how a tiny little seed becomes a fully grown plant? Cut out the pictures in the activity sheet here, and match them…
'Is It a Seed?' Scavenger Hunt
Hold on tight - where will this mysterious little seed take us? Will it sprout into a lone flower? Or could it transform into something truly…
The Green Kingdom - Activity Pack
From Cornelia Funke, best-selling author of the Inkheart series, comes an enchanting tale of mystery, adventure and friendship. Go beyond the page and enjoy an…
Arts Award Discover: Summer Reading Challenge 2025
In this download you will find: - Arts Award Discover activity sheets - A document showing how the activities map to each part of Discover…
Latest News
Let Imaginations Bloom: Spotify Supports The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge 2025
This summer, The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge invites children across the UK to step into the Story Garden –…
How to Keep Children Reading Over Summer: Why Teachers Champion the Summer Reading Challenge
Case Study from Tanya Du Bery, Year 6 Teacher and KS2 English Lead, and Grace Mulberry, Class Teacher and Early…
How Tom Gates got a child with vision impairment hooked on the Summer Reading Challenge
Thousands of children across the UK will be heading to their local libraries this summer to take part in the…
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