Nurture your children’s imagination with the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging youngsters to explore magical connection between stories and nature

Children can nurture a passion for reading this summer by signing up for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge at Cambridgeshire Libraries.

This year’s theme, Story Garden, which features “beautiful” illustrations by award-winning artist Dapo Adeola, aims to encourage children to explore the magical connection between stories and nature.

The Challenge is free to take part in and is open to pre-school and primary school-aged children of all reading abilities.

Children can sign up at their local – or mobile – library to receive a special collector’s folder. To complete the challenge, they will need to read six library books of their choice during the holidays, which includes listening to audiobooks or being read to for young children not yet able to read independently.

Children have until Saturday, September 13, to complete the challenge. When they finish, they will receive a certificate and medal, with a special sticker medal for under three-year-olds.

To celebrate this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, creative and green-fingered craft-based activities and events will be taking place across Cambridgeshire’s libraries throughout the summer holidays. To find out what’s happening at your nearest library, go to Library Live | What's On.

Cllr Alison Whelan, chair of the communities, social mobility and inclusion committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We want to ensure all Cambridgeshire’s children have opportunities to thrive and our support for libraries is key to that.

“At the heart of local communities, local libraries offer free activities and an enormous range of books to help children and young people blossom and grow.

“Joining in with the Summer Reading Challenge is a brilliant way to nurture young readers, encouraging confidence and enjoyment – as reading levels can sometimes otherwise dip over the holidays.

“I’m sure everyone who takes part will have great fun this summer as they develop their reading skills and enjoy the many engaging and free themed activities on offer at libraries across the county.”

The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge is just one element of a range of fun family activities taking place across Cambridgeshire this summer.

The countywide campaign, Get Activated, is packed with free or low-cost activities to keep the whole family entertained throughout the summer months at a time when many household budgets are stretched.

The challenge is produced by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with local libraries. For more information, go to the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge on the council's website.