Taking place annually, the Challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to keep reading during the summer holidays.

Children’s reading can ‘dip’ during the long summer holidays if they don’t have regular access to books and encouragement to read for pleasure. The Summer Reading Challenge helps by regularly reaching over 700,000 children each year, motivating them to visit their local library and keep reading during the holidays, and in turn helping them to maintain their reading skills and confidence.

This year’s theme is Story Garden

This year’s theme is Story Garden, adventures in nature and the great outdoors and launches on Saturday 5 July 2025. This exciting new theme will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme, features artwork from award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola, whose stunning illustrations will bring 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.