Summer Reading Challenge 2025 - Story Garden
Running in Slough Libraries from 1 July to 13 September.
Growing a love for books with Slough Libraries
Slough Libraries are delighted to announce the theme for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge: Story Garden - Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors. This exciting new theme will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.
The annual Summer Reading Challenge is delivered by the Reading Agency, in partnership with public libraries across the UK, and it's free for children to take part. Throughout the summer, children joining 'Story Garden' can discover new books, participate in free activities at their local library, and explore the link between reading and the great outdoors, where nature and imagination come together.
Children of all ages can complete the challenge by enjoying six library books over the summer, collecting stickers as they progress. Those that finish will be awarded a certificate to mark their achievement and children age 4+ will receive a bonus activity card to continue their reading journey. The challenge presents reading as a fun and enjoyable activity and encourages children to become lifelong book lovers. It helps prevent the trend for reading skills to dip over the summer holidays and enhances and supports the school’s reading initiatives. The Challenge is inclusive to children of all abilities as they can choose any library books that appeal to them to complete it. You’ll need to be a library member to sign up. It’s quick, easy and free to join.
Children will be encouraged to give their opinions on the books they have read through book chats with library staff and volunteers.
Slough Libraries will be celebrating the Summer Reading Challenge with an exciting, free programme of themed activities celebrating the natural world and the joy of reading that will help develop confidence, expression and literacy skills in a fun and supportive way. The programme will include Flourish! creative hubs at each library, where children can let their ideas and imagination blossom, expressing themselves through words, sounds, pictures or movement. There will be materials and support for children to produce artworks of all kinds, including poetry, soundscapes and visual art, with an opportunity to showcase their work .
Visit the events page to discover all the family activities on offer or download the summer reading challenge brochure for more details.
Find out more at the Summer Reading Challenge website.