Children's library

Summer Reading Challenge 2025

The Summer Reading Challenge is free and runs from Thursday 24 July to Saturday 30 August. You can join in at any of our 6 libraries.

The challenge is for children aged 4 to 11 to:

  • keep reading during the summer holidays
  • visit your local library
  • find new books to enjoy
  • have a summer full of fun, stories, and nature adventure

This year's theme is Story Garden - Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors. It will help children use their imagination by reading stories and learning how nature and storytelling go together in a fun and magical way.

How it works

  1. Join the challenge at any of our libraries from 12 July (or at any time during the challenge).
  2. Borrow books you like and read them at home.
  3. Come back to the library and tell us about the books you read. You will get a collector's card and a sticker for each one.
  4. Keep collecting rewards as you read more books.

The rewards are as follows:

  • read 3 books - you will get a bookmark
  • read 6 books - you will get:
    • A medal
    • A certificate
    • A chance to win prizes like tickets from:
      • Caddies
      • Adventure Island
      • Southend Theatres (Pantomime)
      • Southend United Football Club

Children under 4 can join the mini challenge. It is a simpler challenge where you read or share 6 books with a grown-up.

When you finish, you get:

  • stickers
  • a certificate
  • a shiny medal sticker

Volunteers will be on hand to chat about the books you have read at:

The Forum

Monday to Saturday - 10am to1pm and 2pm to 3.30pm.

Leigh, Kent Elms, Westcliff, Southchurch and Shoeburyness libraries

Monday to Friday - 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 3.30pm.
Saturday - 10am to 1pm.

Garon Park

We are working with Garon Park to reach families who may not be able to get to a library. They are running a Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden at their venue on Thursdays - 10am to 3pm from 31 July to 28 August.

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