About the Summer Reading Challenge
The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries. The challenge, aimed at children aged 4 – 11 years, is to read six or more library books over the summer, encouraging them to keep up the reading habit over their long break from school.
There is a different theme each year. In 2023, Ready, Set, Read! was developed in collaboration with the Youth Sport Trust and celebrated play and participation, encouraging children to get involved in games and sports in any way that best suited them. In 2024 the theme was Marvellous Makers. In 2025, 319 Children in Rutland took part in the Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge and 165 completed the challenge by reading 6 books.
Children who take part in the Summer Reading Challenge:
- 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.
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The Summer Reading Challenge is FREE to join, and children can take part at any Rutland Library during the school summer break. We have events running alongside the Challenge during the summer.
How the challenge works
- Children sign up at the library to start their Challenge.
- Borrow books and get reading! Children choose the books they want to read, recording what they have read along the way. Library staff are on hand to chat to children about books they have read.
- There are rewards and incentives along the way to encourage you to read.
- To complete the challenge, earn 6 stickers by reading library books or attending events. Once 6 stickers have been collected, receives a medal, certificate and entry to our prize draw!
It’s all free, fun and a great way to keep children reading over the summer holidays.
There is a bite sized version of the Summer Reading Challenge is also available for children aged 3 and under.
Children can also take part online for digital reward by signing up for a website profile at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk (children will be asked to provide a parent/carer email address to approve signup).
What to read on the Summer Reading Challenge
Children can read any books they like on the Summer Reading Challenge; stories, fact books, poetry, jokes, graphic novels. Why not browse our new library catalogue.
Children can also read eBooks and eAudiobooks from our collections on Borrowbox