Nottingham City Libraries challenges families across the city of Nottingham to take part in The Reading Agency’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging children to explore the magical connection between storytelling and the natural world with this year’s theme: Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors.
Launching on Saturday 5 July, the Summer Reading Challenge invites children aged 0–11 to visit their local library, discover new books, and enjoy a summer filled with fun, imagination, and outdoor inspiration.
Featuring beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Dapo Adeola, Story Garden offers young readers a world of stories, creatures, and nature-based adventures. Children can collect stickers, borrow from a huge choice of books and enjoy a range of free and low cost events throughout the school holidays — all designed to keep them curious, active, and engaged with reading over the summer holidays.
Highlights from the summer activity programme include:
- An activity in every city library every week in the school holidays
- Make a Moving Robot workshop
- Comic masterclass with writer and illustrator Kev Sutherland
- Theatre for under 7s
- Partnering with the National Literacy Trust in Nottingham with their Summer Book Giveaway, where children can redeem postcard vouchers hidden across the city for a free book at the library Summer Book Giveaway | National Literacy Trust
Councillor Corall Jenkins – Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Waste and Equalities, said:
“We’re really excited to welcome children and families back for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. It’s a brilliant way to spark a love of reading while encouraging young minds to explore nature and creativity. The Challenge is completely free so all children can take part and enjoy exploring their local library”.
Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency, added:
“The Summer Reading Challenge continues to be a bright light in what has recently been an uncertain picture of children’s reading. Story Garden will create magical spaces where children can explore and be curious, combining the joy of reading with the wellbeing benefits of connecting with nature. We’re particularly excited to be working with Dapo Adeola, whose illustrations will bring these adventures to life.”
Now in its 26th year, the Summer Reading Challenge is delivered in partnership with public libraries and is completely free to join. In 2024, the Challenge reached nearly 600,000 children and inspired over 100,000 new library memberships across the UK.
To find out how to join in the fun and discover events happening at Nottingham City Libraries, visit www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk or go to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk