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
- Join the challenge at any of our libraries from 12 July (or at any time during the challenge).
- Borrow books you like and read them at home.
- 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.
- 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.