Walsall Council’s libraries across the borough are preparing to launch this year’s Summer Reading Challenge on Saturday 5 July 2025 to encourage children to maintain their reading habits during the school holidays.
The challenge will run until Saturday 13th September 2025 under the exciting theme, ‘Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors’, which is designed to inspire children aged 4-11 to discover connections between storytelling and the natural world.
“ This initiative is a great way to help children maintain a culture of reading over the school holidays, and I’m looking forward to seeing more children than last year join the challenge. Reading is fun, and the Story Garden theme connects reading with nature and provides wonderful opportunities for children to explore both books and the great outdoors. It’s free to join the library and all our libraries are supporting the programme. “
Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Health and Wellbeing at Walsall Council.
Organised by the Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with public libraries across the UK, the Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to read six or more library books over the summer holidays. This helps them to maintain reading skills and confidence during the school break.
The initiative is the UK’s biggest reading for pleasure programme for children, reaching approximately 700,000 children nationwide each year. Last year, over 1,803 children across Walsall took part in the challenge. Research shows that one in five children cannot read well by the age of 11, and many experience a dip in their reading over the summer, making programmes like this vital for educational development.
This year’s Story Garden theme features artwork from award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola, whose illustrations bring magical creatures, plants and flowers to life, inspiring reading adventures that connect children with both books and nature.
How the Challenge works:
Children sign up at their local library and will receive a pencil and a bug, either a ladybird, bumblebee or butterfly.
They choose 2 books they want to read and borrow those from the library
For every 2 books read, children collect stickers and rewards as they progress
Every child who completes the challenge by reading six library books receives a certificate, lanyard and medal and goody bag with extra treats.
Children can also participate online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.
The challenge welcomes all reading abilities and includes any picture books, early reader, non-fiction books or books for confident readers. Audiobooks and eBooks can also be used to complete the challenge. All books need to be borrowed with a Walsall Library borrower card.
The programme specifically supports children by preparing them to return to the classroom in autumn, supporting their move into a new year group or key stage, and boosting their confidence.
About Walsall libraries:
The borough of Walsall has seven libraries & a mobile library:
Aldridge Community Library
Bloxwich Community Library
Brownhills Community Library
Darlaston Community Library
Lichfield Street Hub
Streetly Community Library
Willenhall Community Library